Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 966: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has empowered ComReg to withhold increases and claw back income where delivery targets are not being met by An Post. [27200/08]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 967: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the improvements made on the next day delivery service in An Post in Ireland; and the action taken to create a postcode system here to reduce costs in the postal system. [27201/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 966 and 967 together.

Matters relating to quality and levels of postal service are a matter, in the first instance, for the management and board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. In addition, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the 2002 European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations, is responsible for the monitoring, measurement and regulation of the postal sector including measuring the levels of service to be achieved by An Post and ensuring that the company abides by its statutory universal service obligations. Data regarding delivery targets can be obtained directly from An Post or ComReg.

With regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to empower ComReg to enforce its delivery targets, I have amended the postal regulations using powers conferred on me by the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007. These amended regulations permit ComReg to apply to the High Court for the application of a financial penalty to An Post, as universal service provider, in the event that the company fails to comply with a direction issued by the regulator, including one in relation to quality of service targets.

With regard to the introduction of a postcode system, in May 2007 the National Postcode Project Board (NPPB) made recommendations to Government to introduce an alpha-numeric postal sector postcode model. The work of the NPPB focused on quantifying the costs and benefits of postcodes to the postal sector including postal operators and customers.

Government decided last year that prior to the introduction of postcodes, further analysis to quantify the wider economic implications should be carried out. This analysis will be completed shortly. On receipt of it, I will assess how best to take the proposal forward.