The director of Telecommunications Regulation Ms Etain Doyle said An Post did not consult her before seeking manufacturers for 500,000 roadside post-boxes, even though the decision to permit their introduction rests with her office.
Speaking before the Oireachtas committee on communications yesterday, Ms Doyle said that while she could not stop An Post advertising for manufacturers, the company could not introduce the boxes without her permission.
"That An Post was seeking tenders, or expressions of interest took us by surprise," she told the committee. "At the end of November when we launched our public consultation paper on the matter, we were not aware of their intention that this \ would happen."
Ms Doyle said the public consultation ended on Friday and she would be publishing her decision in mid-February.
The chief executive of An Post, Mr John Hynes said the company could not survive financially without introducing the roadside boxes to rural areas. These boxes were key to the company's strategic plan and to return the business to profit.
An Post expects losses of up to €39 million for 2002 and the post- boxes, it says, would save the company an estimated €20 million. "This is absolutely fundamental to the financial future of An Post. We want to put the letter-boxes in this year on a phased basis. The alternative is to go back and get four or five cents more on the postage price," he said.
Mr Hynes told committee chairman Mr Noel O'Flynn that An Post had to advertise for manufacturers before getting permission so the boxes would be ready this year.
