New figures from An Post show that 40 per cent of all mail - about one million items - are now machine-sorted. The figures were released ahead of today's opening of a new 11.6 million extension to An Post's national parcel processing facility at Portlaoise Mails Centre.
It will be opened by the Minister for Communications, Noel Dempsey.
More than 20,000 parcels are processed at the Portlaoise hub each day, comprising parcel mail posted in Dublin and the Leinster area, as well as all incoming international parcels.
Some 270 staff are employed at the centre.
An Post has achieved strong growth in parcel volumes since the former SDS subsidiary was reintegrated into the mainstream mails operation two years ago, said chief executive Donal Connell.
He said that An Post was forecasting steady growth in parcel volumes, particularly in the area of internet and home shopping deliveries. The development brings to €110 million An Post's investment in the national mails infrastructure in recent years.
