The price of a stamp is set to increase again, reaching €1.65 later this month.
According to An Post, the 25c hike is in line with global trends and below the EU14 and UK benchmark of €1.88 for a next-day letter delivery service.
There has been a consistent decline in the hand-posted letter – volumes fell more than 8 per cent in the last 12 months; by 40 per cent since 2017 and 50 per cent in the last decade.
“The price changes will cover the cost of providing a world-class national letter service to every address,” the company said on Wednesday.
The move takes account of staff wage increases in line with national pay awards and increased operating costs.
Citing its commitment to retaining a next-day national delivery “to the door” service, An Post noted how European countries have increasingly reduced letter delivery frequency to once or twice a week, often to central collection points.
“Revenue is determined by the volume of letters and price. As the volume decreases the price has to increase,” the company said.
“In Denmark, for example, where the volume of letters has declined by 85 per cent since 2008, the price of a stamp is €5.23.”
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The change, set for February 27th, will also see the international letter stamp price rise from €2.20 to €2.65. Rates for large envelopes, packets and parcels to international destinations will also rise, while the national digital stamp will increase from €2 to €2.22.
Small and medium-sized businesses will be able to avail of a €1.55 national stamp rate through the An Post Advantage Card – a discount of 6 per cent.
“Conscious of the impact on older customers An Post staff will continue to check in on elderly customers, particularly those living alone in isolated rural areas, and will work with Irish charity Alone to support communications services,” the company said.
A free delivery service for letters and parcels up to 1kg posted to residents of nursing and care homes in the Republic is to be extended to the end of 2025.
“We’ve worked hard to get the economics right on price for postage by introducing smarter work practices and reducing costs,” said An Post chief executive David McRedmond.
“While we manage the decline in postal, An Post is also investing heavily in the parcel and ecommerce business, which is growing rapidly.”
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