Senior An Post officials are to appear before an Oireachtas committee today to explain the company's financial position and its plan to end home postal deliveries in rural areas.
The chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Mr Noel O'Flynn, has expressed serious reservations about the company's plan to install outdoor letter boxes for houses that are 10 metres or more from the public road.
He said the committee was also concerned about An Post's financial future.
An Post management has forecast losses of €37 million for 2002, and €27 million for this year.
An Post chief executive Mr John Hynes is expected to attend the committee. This is the second time this month An Post has been called before the committee, but was not available to attend on the previous occasion.
A spokesman for An Post could not confirm last night whether the company would be making a presentation to the committee. However, its officials, "would respond to the questions raised by the chairman and the committee".
The Communications Regulator, Ms Etain Doyle, will make a presentation at today's meeting.
The Commission for Communications Regulation is conducting public consultation on the plans for the roadside letter boxes. Its conclusions are due at the end of this month.
