I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 10, 32, 72 and 77 together.
Normally, matters such as those raised in today's questions and in the questions on the same topic tabled on 17 February 1994, would fall within the day-to-day administration of the State body concerned. However, in view of the widespread public concern about the quality of the postal service arising from An Post's new arrangements, I have felt it appropriate to get a report from An Post in the matter.
As I indicated in my reply to question No. 3 on 17 February 1994, An Post implemented a programme of changes in the arrangements for distribution and delivery of mail in the Dublin area. These changes were introduced on 17 January 1994 and were part of An Post's recovery measures to reduce costs and improve profitability.
The changes introduced gave rise initially to two main problems. First of all there was the question of next day deliveries and secondly there was the question of delivery times in Dublin.
With regard to next day deliveries, in the week the Dublin Mails Centre was opened next day deliveries for letter post nationwide, as sampled by an independent market research company, fell to 68 per cent compared to results of over 90 per cent in each of the last four years. By the week commencing 14 February this figure had risen to 85 per cent and based on this improvement I was assured by An Post that next day deliveries were back to normal. However, this did not materialise and next day deliveries slipped in the weeks commencing 21 and 28 February. Things improved again in the following weeks and the most recent data available, which covers items posted during March, show an average 93 per cent next day delivery nationwide. I have spoken to An Post and I am assured that the company will be able to maintain this level of performance regarding next day deliveries in the future.
The figure of 93 per cent is based on postings Dublin to Dublin, provinces to Dublin, Dublin to provinces and provinces to provinces. An Post have informed me that Dublin to Dublin, Dublin to provinces and provinces to provinces next day deliveries for March are 91 per cent, 91 per cent and 99 per cent respectively. The exception to this good performance is provinces to Dublin post which shows 84 per cent next day deliveries. I have stressed to An Post the necessity for getting the provinces to Dublin performance back to the national average at the earliest possible date.
In my discussions with An Post I inquired about the operations of the optical character recognition equipment installed in the Dublin Mails Centre. I was assured that the equipment is performing satisfactorily and is already processing 80 per cent of Dublin mails. I also understand that An Post will be advising their customers again about the best preparation and addressing of mail to optimise the use of the new equipment.
In fact the problems of the last three months relate not so much to the performance of the new equipment as to the organisational and logistical difficulties of implementing major changes simultaneously. The organisational problems derived from the need to embark on a massive re-training exercise, an exercise which An Post admit they underestimated. The logistical problems arose from the need to handle some mails outside the Dublin Mails Centre during its transition to full capacity processing thus creating a volume of mail which was not ready in time for the morning delivery.
This led to the second main problem I referred to earlier, namely the delivery times for customers in Dublin, particularly the key business areas of the city. An Post have informed me that, in consultation with the trades unions, after my meeting with them management is reexamining the arrangements for deliveries in these business areas and that they are aiming to effect significant improvements which will begin to show in the next couple of weeks. I have told the company that I expect such improvements to be seen within that time frame.
We must all keep in mind the fact that what is being attempted in An Post is a massive overhaul and reorganisation of practices and the introdution of up-to-the-minute technology in an area that was without change for so long. The company, in making these changes, has set out to effect significant cost savings in operations while maintaining the quality of service the public has come to expect.
I have indicated to An Post, however, that I am concerned that the new arrangements are taking so long to become fully effective but they have assured me that both managment and staff ar doing all they can to return to the pre-January 1994 standards. That this is taking longer than anticipated is a matter for regret but I am prepared to give all concerned a further short breathing space to allow the new arrangements to measure up to what the public requires and is entitled to receive.
