Cork mail service ‘not in meltdown’, say An Post

Mail services in Cork are not “in meltdown”, a spokesperson from An Post has said, pointing out that the national postal service had one of its busiest Christmas holiday periods ever.

Responding to criticism at a Cork County Council meeting, the spokesperson said that there has been a 50% surge in parcel volumes throughout the country, including in Cork, in the past year, and a 2% increase in new address points.

The spokesperson said: “While letter volumes have declined by 7%, the growth in delivery points means that our teams are delivering more and more complex items, at a much higher capacity.

“We have also just come through one of the busiest periods in our history. Nationally, parcel volumes were over 35% higher this Christmas and well into the new year, with An Post handling 2m parcels and 3m cards weekly. 

Despite huge efforts from our staff, there were some delays and interruptions to services.”

Criticism

The spokesperson was responding to criticism of its service in Cork, including claims that sick and elderly people were missing hospital appointments due to lost or late letters, and that some housing estates hadn’t received post in more than two weeks. There were also claims that registered letters had gone astray, and that one man lost his work permit after key documents arrived late.

“An Post is currently experiencing a period of unprecedented growth, and this has required a significant realignment of our resources nationwide,” the An Post spokesperson said. 

“It is simply not the case that An Post prioritises parcel deliveries over letter post, as also claimed.”

An Post has begun hiring 300 frontline staff and “many of these postmen and postwomen” will be working in Cork, the spokesperson said. “Already, 10 extra staff have come on board: Eight in our Cork Distribution Centre at Little Island and two at our south city delivery depot, with a further 20 due to take up duty shortly.”