I propose to take Question No. 5 and Priority Question No. 57 together.
The annual report of An Post is a comprehensive document which gives a wide range of information about their business and performance.
An Post employ the service of a market research company to conduct regular independent surveys of the effectiveness of the postal service. The results of these surveys are made available on request to my Department. The board of An Post are considering the advisability of incorporating performance targets in their corporate plan and of publishing the results of the surveys of the effectiveness of the postal system.
The company's annual report for 1986 indicated that An Post had delivered 90 per cent of letters on the working day after posting and that 80 per cent next-day delivery of parcels had been achieved. The 1987 annual report stated that implementation of productivity arrangements during the past year brought some teething problems, with the result that the improvement in service, achieved by An Post in recent years in some areas of its business was not fully maintained. The company are tackling the problems and are determined to raise standards still further.
On the basis of discussions between the Department of Communications and An Post, I am satisfied that the company are giving the highest priority to the provision of high service standards in their mail services. I will be seeking progress reports from the company from time to time.
As regards parcel mail, the improvement in quality of service achieved in 1986 was maintained in 1987 and an independent study reported 85 per cent next-day delivery for internal parcels.
In the circumstances, I do not consider it necessary at this stage to direct An Post to include specific information regarding cost-effectiveness in their annual report, pursuant to section 33 (2) of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983. I will, however, keep the position under review in the light of the progress reports on service standards, the effects of the company's productivity scheme and material furnished in the company's corporate plan.