S.I. No. 129/1998 - Inland Post Amendment (No. 57) Scheme, 1998.


S.I. No. 129 of 1998.

INLAND POST AMENDMENT (NO. 57) SCHEME, 1998.

AN POST, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Section 70 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983 (No. 24 of 1983), and with the consent of the Minister for Public Enterprise, hereby makes the following Scheme:

1. (1) This Scheme may be cited as the Inland Post Amendment (No. 57) Scheme, 1998.

(2) This Scheme shall come into operation on the 6th day of April, 1998.

2. In this Scheme—

"the Principal Warrant" means the Inland Post Warrant, 1939 ( S.I. No. 202 of 1939 ).

"Scheme No. 36" means the Inland Post Amendment (No. 36) Scheme, 1986 ( S.I. No. 362 of 1986 ).

"Scheme No. 47" means the Inland Post Amendment (No. 47) Scheme, 1991 ( S.I. No. 95 of 1991 ).

3. Regulation 3 (3) of the Principal Warrant is hereby amended by the substitution for that Regulation of the following:

(a) The expression "Postal Packet" means a postal packet as defined in Section 89 of the Post Office Act 1908.

(b) The expression "letter" means any postal packet which is not a postcard, newspaper, parcel or literature for the blind.

4. Regulation 3 (6) of the Principal Warrant is hereby revoked.

5. Regulation 3 (8) of the Principal Warrant is hereby revoked.

6. Regulation 3 (11) of the Principal Warrant is hereby revoked.

7. Regulation 15 of the Principal Warrant (as amended by Regulation 3 of the Inland Post Amendment (No. 30) Scheme, 1985) is hereby revoked.

8. Regulation 18 of the Principal Warrant is hereby revoked.

9. Regulation 25 (1) of the Principal Warrant is hereby amended by the substitution for that Regulation of the following:

If forwarded as a letter or postcard, the conditions in the fifth column of the First Schedule hereto (being the conditions relating to letters and postcards) shall apply.

10. Regulation 31 to 36 inclusive of the Principal Warrant shall be deleted and replaced with the following:—

31. An express packet must bear the word "Swiftpost" or such other words or such lines or marks as may be prescribed.

32. A Swiftpost packet must be posted by being handed to an officer of the post office in accordance with such conditions as shall be prescribed.

33. (1) The fees for Swiftpost packets posted at offices in Ireland for delivery therein shall be fully prepaid, except when An Post otherwise directs. Provided that An Post may forward a packet as a Swiftpost packet although the sums chargeable thereon are not prepaid and if the addressee refuses to pay the deficiency it shall be paid by the sender.

(2) In no case shall An Post be bound to deliver by Swiftpost any Swiftpost packet unless the addressee pays all sums due and payable thereon.

34. Subject to the provisions of this Scheme as to express delivery, all Swiftpost packets shall be forwarded, conveyed and delivered in all respects subject to the provisions of the Acts and Regulations in force for the time being in relation to Inland postal packets, so far as the same are applicable, and to the terms and conditions of posting (if any) as notified to the sender. Provided always that Swiftpost delivery in Ireland shall be limited to such days and within such hours as An Post may from time to time prescribe.

35. An Post may suspend the Swiftpost Service either generally or in respect of any particular office, location or area as An Post may at its absolute discretion determine.

36. (1) An Post may pay to such sender such compensation as An Post, at its discretion, may decide, if a Swiftpost packet is not delivered by the due time.

(2) An Post shall have no liability in respect of any direct or consequential damage or injury arising from any loss of or delay or damage to any Swiftpost packet.

11. The following words shall be deleted from Regulation 43 (1) (ii) of the Principal Warrant:

"printed packet, sample packet"

12. Sections 1 and 2 of the First Schedule of the Principal Warrant is hereby amended by the substitution for the entries therein (inserted by Regulation 8 of Scheme No. 47) of the entries in the First Schedule to this Scheme.

Section 3 of the First Schedule to the Principal Warrant (inserted by Regulation 8 of Scheme No. 47) is hereby deleted.

13. Sections 4 and 5 of the First Schedule to the Principal Warrant is hereby amended by the substitution for the entries therein (inserted by Regulation 8 of Scheme No. 47) of the entries at Sections 3 and 4 respectively in the First Schedule to this Scheme.

14. Section 6 of the First Schedule to the Principal Warrant (inserted by Regulation 8 of Scheme No. 47) is hereby deleted.

15. Section 7 of the First Schedule to the Principal Warrant is hereby amended by the substitution for the entries therein (inserted by Regulation 8 of Scheme No. 47) of the entries at Section 5 in the First Schedule to this Scheme.

16. The Second Schedule to the Principal Warrant is hereby amended by the substitution for the entries therein (inserted by Regulation 9 of Scheme No. 47) of the entries in the Second Schedule to this Scheme.

17. The Third Schedule to the Principal Warrant is hereby amended by the substitution for the entries therein (inserted by Regulation 10 of Scheme No. 47) of the entries in the Third Schedule to this Scheme.

18. Part I and Part II of the Fourth Schedule to the Principal Warrant is hereby amended by the substitution for the entries therein (inserted by Regulation 11 of Scheme No. 47) at Part I and Part II of the entries in the Fourth Schedule to this Scheme.

19. Regulation 6 of the Inland Post Amendment (No. 36) Scheme 1986 is hereby amended by the substitution for that Regulation of the following:

Any postal packet intended for posting under the Postaim Service shall contain only printed matter of an advertising and/or promotional nature, and, for the avoidance of doubt and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following postal items are expressly excluded from the Postaim Service:

Items required by law to be sent by post, or items requested by the addressee (with the exception of Mail Order catalogues), items which contain invoices or statements; or accounts; or annual reports or sales reports; or results of raffles, or draws, etc.; or price change notifications; or merchandise; or items mailed on sale or return basis; or election material; or items for which a fee is payable by the addressee; or receipts for monies received; or notification of indexation changes; or items which are required to be sent as part of a contract with the addressee; or renewal of subscriptions to a product or service; or items containing membership newsletters or renewals; or meeting notices; or notification to members of organisations of further functions to be held by that organisation; or registered publications.

20. Section 10 of Inland Post Amendment (No. 36) Scheme, 1986 is hereby amended by substitution for that regulation of the following:

10.1 There shall be charged and paid upon postal packets posted under the Postaim Service the rates specified in the First Schedule Part One as appropriate to the weight and size of the said postal packets and as appropriate to the volume of postal packets so posted in the Postaim Service.

10.2 There shall be charged and paid upon postal packets posted under the Postaim Service and contained in Postaim postage pre-paid envelopes supplied by An Post and coming within the weight limit and having the volumes specified in the First Schedule Part Two the appropriate price per postal packet as set out in column 4 of the First Schedule Part Two. If the said postal packets are pre-sorted the basic price applying will be the price specified in column 5 or column 6 of the First Schedule Part Two as appropriate subject to the volumes specified in column 3 of the First Schedule Part Two being posted.

10.3 Postal packets posted under the Postaim Services (a) containing a pre-paid response mechanism, envelope or card shall receive a 1p discount per postal packet, or (b) Postal packets containing an unpaid pre-printed response envelope or card shall receive a discount of .5p per postal packet.

21. The first schedule to Scheme No. 36 is hereby amended by the substitution for the entries therein of the entries in the Fifth Schedule to this Scheme.

22. Regulation 3(5) of the Principal Warrant is hereby revoked.

FIRST SCHEDULE

Rates of Postage

Col. 1

Description of Postal Packet

Col. 2

Rate of postage

Col. 3

Limit of Size

Col. 4

Limit of Weight

Col. 5

Conditions

1. Letter

30p per item

Maximum dimensions:

25 g

A letter upon which no part, or a part only, of the postage payable thereon is prepaid shall be forwarded charged with the amount of the deficient postage plus a handling charge of 50p.

162mm x 235mm with a tolerance of 2mm.

Minimum dimensions:

90mm x 140mm with a tolerance of 2mm.

Or in the precise terms laid down by the Company.

(2)

Maximum dimensions

Not exceeding 50g...........35p

Length, 610mm, width, 460mm, depth, 460mm. In roll form, length and twice diameter, 990mm, greatest dimension, 810mm.

Exceeding 50g but not exceeding 100g.................45p

Exceeding 100g but not exceeding 250g.................70p

Exceeding 250g but not exceeding 500g...............115p

Minimum dimensions:

Length, 100mm width, 70mm. In role form length and twice diameter, 170mm, greatest dimension, not less than 100mm.

Exceeding 500g but not exceeding 1 kg (a)..........180p

Exceeding 500g but not exceeding 1 kg (b)..........300p

(a) This rate applies to flats which are defined as items exceding 500g but not exceeding 1kg with maximum dimensions: Length 400mm, Width 300mm, Depth 25mm.

Exceeding 1 kg but not exceeding 1.5 kg.............400p

Exceeding 1.5 kg but not exceeding 2 kg................500p

Each extra 500 g..............100p

The minimum dimensions do not apply in relation to letters which bear a rectangular address label of cardboard or strong paper of which the dimensions are not less than 100mm by 70mm.

(b) This rate applies to packets exceeding 500g but not exceeding 1kg which do not fall within the flats definition.

Col. 1

Col. 2

Col. 3

Col. 4

Col. 5

Description of Postal Packet

Rate of postage

Limit of Size

Limit of Weight

Conditions

2. Postcard

30p

Maximum dimensions:

Length, 235mm

Width, 162mm.

with a tolerance of 2mm.

Minimum dimensions:

Length, 140mm

Width, 90mm

with a tolerance of 2mm.

25g

A postcard upon which no part, or a part only, of the postage payable thereon is prepaid shall be forwarded charged with the amount of the deficient postage plus a handling fee of 50p.

3. Newspaper (registered at the General Post Office) posted in a manner acceptable to An Post.

(per copy)......................30p

As for item 1 (2) in this column

1 kg

(1) The rates of postage specified in Col. 2 shall be charged and paid on every newspaper, whether posted singly or in a packet of two or more, plus an annual registration fee of£10.

(2) Any newspaper will, if posted or tendered for transmission by the post in a manner other than that prescribed by An Post, shall be charged with postage as a letter.

(3) Any newspaper upon which no part, or a part only, of the postage payable thereon is prepaid shall be forwarded charged with the amount of the deficient postage plus a handling fee of 50p.

Col. 1

Col. 2

Col. 3

Col. 4

Col. 5

Description of Postal Packet

Rate of postage

Limit of Size

Limit of Weight

Conditions

4. (a) Periodicals posted pre-sorted in a manner acceptable to An Post.

Not exceeding 250g...32p

Exceeding 250g but not exceeding 500g ..........64p

As for item 1 (2) in this column

1 kg

(1) The rates of Postage in Col. 2 shall be charged and paid on every periodical whether posted singly or in a packet of two or more.

(2) Any periodical published at intervals longer than 3 months will, if posted or tendered for transmission by post, be charged with postage as a letter (regulation 3 of Scheme No. 29).

Thereafter the appropriate letter rate is applicable.

(3) Any periodical will, if posted or tendered for transmission by post in a manner other than that prescribed by An Post be charged with postage as a letter.

(4) Any periodical, upon which no part, or a part only, of the postage payable thereon is prepaid shall be forwarded charged with the amount of the deficient postage plus a handling charge of 50p.

(b) Posted in bulk for delivery within the State only.

Exceeding 500g but not exceeding 1 kg ........£1.83 per kg

Minimum quantity required 10kg.

5. Literature and Articles for the Blind.

Transmission without charge

As for item 1 (2) in this column

7kg

SECOND SCHEDULE

Certain Services and Charges Thereof

Col. 1

Col. 2

Col. 3

Service

Charge

Provisions

1. Late Fee Postal Packet

A fee (in addition to postage) not exceeding 15p as may be prescribed.

A packet upon which no part, or a part only, of the fee payable is paid shall be liable to a surcharge of the deficiency plus a handling fee of 50p.

2. Certificate of posting (issued at the request of the sender of an unregistered postal packet other than a parcel)

Free of charge

The service is subject to such rules as may be prescribed in Eolaí An Phoist.

3. Certificate of Delivery (obtained and forwarded to the sender of a registered postal packet at his request).

Requested at time of posting ......................£1.00

The Certificate relates to the delivery of the postal packet at the place to which the said packet is addressed. The service is subject to such rules as may be prescribed.

Requested

subsequently ............£2.00

4. Deposit Account for payment of postage

Free of charge

As provided by Regulation 11 of this Warrant.

5. Redirection

As provided by Regulation 26 of this Warrant.

As provided by Regulation 26 of this Warrant.

6. Change of address Postcards.

Per packet of 10 ........£3.00

THIRD SCHEDULE

Express Delivery Service

Swiftpost

Col. 1

Col. 2

Col. 3

Service

Limit of Weight

Fee

Conveyance   by  special arrangement of a postal packet subject to the provision of Regulation 10 of this Scheme (No. 57).

100g or less...........................

£2.00

Exceeding 100g but not exceeding 250g

£3.00

Exceeding 250g but not exceeding 500g

£4.00

Exceeding 500g but not exceeding 1 kg

£5.00

Exceeding 1 kg but not exceeding 1.5 kg

£6.00

Exceeding 1.5 kg but not exceeding 2 kg

£7.00

FOURTH SCHEDULE

Registered Postal Packets (excluding Parcels within the State)

Part I

Fee in addition to Ordinary Postage

Col. 1

Col. 2

Col. 3

Service

Registration

Late fee

1. Postal Packet handed for registration to an officer of the Post Office authorised to receive the same, though not on duty at a Post Office or handed in at a Post handed in at a Post Office for registration.

£1.70

Such extra sum not exceeding 15p as may be prescribed (applicable only to Packets intended to be forwarded by the next despatch but registered after the expiration of the time appointed for the registration of packets (without extra fee) and within such further time as An Post may from time to time appoint with reference to any particular Post Office).

2. Cumpulsory registration pursuant to Regulation 42 of this Warrant.

£2.70

(Less any amount which may have been affixed in postage stamps in excess of the ordinary postage).

Part II

Col. 1

Col. 2

Registration Fee (in addition to Ordinary Postage)

Maximum Compensation

£

£

Minimum   1.70

100

2.20

500

2.70

1,000

FIFTH SCHEDULE

PART 1

Rates of Postage

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Column 6

Column 7

Column 8

Column 9

Column 10

Description of Postal Packet

Weight

Size

Volume Requirement

Volume Requirement

Volume Requirement

Volume Requirement

Volume Requirement

Volume Requirement

Volume Requirement

Volume Requirement

2,000-10,000

10,000-25,000

25,000-50,000

50,000-75,000

75,000-100,000

100,000-250,000

250,000-500,000

500,000+

Items Posted in the Postaim Service

Up to

50 gms

(C5 max)

25

24

23

22

21

20

19

18

Up to

100 gms

Size as for letters

35

32

30

28

26

25

24

23

Up to

250gms

45

43

41

39

37

36

35

34

Up to

500 gms

70

68

66

64

62

61

60

59

Up to

600gms

84

82

80

78

76

75

74

73

Up to

700gms

98

96

94

92

90

89

88

87

Up to

800gms

112

110

108

106

104

103

102

101

Up to

900gms

126

124

122

120

118

117

116

115

Up to

1,000gms

140

138

136

134

132

131

130

129

FIFTH SCHEDULE

PART II

Postaim Postage Prepaid Envelopes

Rates of Postage

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Column 6

Description of Postal Packet

Weight

Volume

Basic Price

Price Presorted Level 2

Price Presorted level 3

Items Posted in

50 gms

500- 2,000

30p

Postaim Postage

2,001- 5,000

29.5p

29p

Prepaid Envelopes

5,001-10,000

29p

28.5p

28p

GIVEN under the Common Seal of AN POST, this 1st day of April 1998.

PRESENT when the Common Seal of An Post was affixed hereto:

JOHN HYNES

Director

HARRY COOKE

Secretary

I, MARY O'ROURKE, Minister for Public Enterprise, hereby consent to the provisions of the foregoing Scheme.

MARY O'ROURKE,

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 3rd day of April, 1998.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Scheme applies to the Inland Post Service and shall be operative from the 6th day of April, 1998. It authorises the cessation of the printed paper service, the restructuring of postage rates for letters, postcards and certain other items, and increases in the postage rates and fees for miscellaneous services.