We regulate postal services and the universal postal service in accordance with our remit set by national law, transposing a European directive.
Our statutory functions are to ensure:
Our statutory objectives are to:
ComReg has no remit for the following:
Several postal service providers operate in Ireland. Postal service providers must obtain authorisation from ComReg.
Click here to see the register of authorised postal service providers in Ireland.
An Post is designated until 1 August 2029 as the universal postal service provider in Ireland.
The universal postal service provider must ensure that there is at least one collection and delivery every working day provided to the home or premises of every person in the Republic of Ireland.
The universal postal service provider must also ensure that several universal postal services are provided – find out more information on Universal Postal Services here.
Performance standards of 94% for next working day delivery (“D+1”) and 99.5% for delivery within three days of posting (“D+3”) have been set for delivery of single-piece universal postal service mail items in the State.
This performance is monitored continuously and more information on the Regulation of Universal Postal Service Quality can be found here.
At most access points the latest time of posting to ensure next working day delivery nationwide is 5.30 pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
The latest time of posting time will be displayed at the access point.
ComReg does not regulate the time that the post is delivered. The scheduling, timing and organisation of deliveries to be made on each working day is an operational decision for the universal postal service provider.
ComReg has no regulatory role regarding the raising of VAT and Customs Duties on postal parcels and packets, liability for same or for collection/payment. The following information may be of assistance, however:
Parcels and packets arriving from outside the EU must be presented to the Revenue Commissioner staff for customs duty assessment and processing. VAT and/or Customs fees must be paid to the Revenue Commissioners by or on behalf of the addressee before the delivery of a parcel/packet is made.
Parcels and packets coming from within the EU are not subject to these charges as VAT & duties are already included.
For information regarding documentation, liability and the payment or collection of duties, please refer to the Revenue Commissioner’s website here.
The collection of VAT and Customs Duties at the delivery point will depend on who delivers the parcel/packet. You should check with the service provider in advance to find out how VAT and Customs duties are collected and processed.
The following situations may apply:
Service providers may charge a separate fee for clearing parcels/packets (including collection and payment of duties for Revenue Commissioners).
ComReg has no regulatory remit for Eircodes. Eircodes are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. More information can be found on the DECC website.