The price of a basic stamp will increase from 48 to 55 cent from tomorrow.
The new 55 cent postage stamp that goes on sale tomorrow, featuring a picture of the Large Flowered Butterwort
An Post welcomed ComReg's go ahead for the price rise, saying it was the first price increase for this category of mail since August 2003.
An Post officials have confirmed the new stamps will be illustrated with a little known Irish plant that feeds off insects - the large Flowered Butterwort.
The wild flower is common in areas of boggy ground in the south-west of the country and survives by extracting nutrients from insects it traps on its sticky leaves.
The new 55 cent rate covers postage on standard stamped mail up to 100g within the island of Ireland. Currently, letters weighing 50g to 100g cost 60 cent, so this represents a 5 cent saving for standard mail at this weight.
A 54 cent rate will apply to letters within Ireland prepaid by meter franking or other business services. The rate for all international (airmail) letters up to 100g increases from 75 cent to 78 cent.
Despite the increase, An Post claimed letter rates remain among the cheapest in Europe for standard (1st class) domestic services.
PA