Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 12th April, 2019.

The Commission for Communications Regulation, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 16 (9) of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 (No. 21 of 2011), hereby makes the following regulations:

Citation and Commencement

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Communications Regulation (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2019.

(2) These Regulations, the Communications Regulation (Universal Postal Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2018 and the Principal Regulations may be cited together as the Communications Regulation (Universal Postal Service) Regulations 2012 to 2019 and shall be construed together as one.

(3) These Regulations shall come into operation on 1 May 2019.

Interpretation

2. In these Regulations “Principal Regulations” means the Communications Regulation (Universal Postal Service) Regulations 2012 ( S.I. No. 280 of 2012 ).

Amendment

3. (1) Regulation 2(1) of the Principal Regulations is amended by substituting for the definition of “deferred delivery” the following:

“ 'deferred delivery' means deposited at a delivery office at one of the specified locations for delivery within the State one day later than would otherwise be the case using the 'D+n' formula”;

(2) Regulation 2(1) of the Principal Regulations is amended by substituting for the definition of “delivery only” the following:

“ 'delivery only' means deposited at a delivery office at one of the specified locations for delivery within the State using the 'D+n' formula”;

(3) Regulation 2(1) of the Principal Regulations is amended by inserting following the definition of “foreign” the following:

“ 'foreign postal packets deposited in bulk' means a substantial number of similar foreign postal packets deposited with a universal postal service provider at the same place and time, pre-sorted by country of destination and prepaid by postal franking machine or prepaid posting under special licence, to be transported and distributed to the addressees as marked on each of the postal packets;”

(4) Regulation 2(1) of the Principal Regulations is amended by substituting for the definition of “postal packets deposited in bulk” the following:

“ 'postal packets deposited in bulk' means either:

(a) a minimum number of 200 letters and large envelopes capable of being processed by automated equipment, with a minimum auto-sort (readability) of 85%, prepaid by postal franking machine or prepaid posting under special licence, deposited with a universal postal service provider at the same place and time to be transported and distributed to the addressees as marked on each of the postal packets; or

(b) a minimum number of 200 packets up to 1kg in weight, prepaid by postal franking machine or prepaid posting under special licence, deposited with a universal postal service provider at the same place and time to be transported and distributed to the addressees as marked on each of the postal packets.”.

(5) Regulation 2(1) of the Principal Regulations is amended by inserting following the definition of “single piece service” the following:

“ 'specified locations' means Athlone, Ballina, Bray, Carlow, Carrick-on-Shannon, Castlebar, Cavan, Clonmel, Cork City, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Dublin City, Dundalk, Dungarvan, Ennis, Galway, Glenageary, Kilkenny, Killarney, Letterkenny, Lifford, Limerick, Longford, Mallow, Maynooth, Monaghan, Mullingar, Naas, Navan, Nenagh, Newbridge (Droichead Nua), Portlaoise, Roscommon, Shannon, Sligo, Swords, Thurles, Tralee, Tuam, Tullamore, Waterford and Wexford.”

(6) Regulation 3(1) of the Principal Regulations is amended by substituting for sub-paragraph (h) the following:

“(h) A service for the clearance, sorting, transport, distribution of 'postal packets deposited in bulk' for 'delivery only'.”

(7) Regulation 3(1)(i) of the Principal Regulations is amended by substituting for sub-paragraph (i) the following:

“(i) A service for the clearance, transport, distribution of 'foreign postal packets deposited in bulk'.”

(8) Regulation 3(1)(j) of the Principal Regulations is amended by substituting for sub-paragraph (j) the following:

“(j) A service for the clearance, sorting, transport, distribution of 'postal packets deposited in bulk' for 'deferred delivery'.”

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Commission for Communications Regulation,

10 April 2019.

Garrett Blaney, Chairperson

for and on behalf of the Commission for Communications Regulation

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations amend the Communications Regulation (Universal Postal Service) Regulations 2012 ( S.I. No. 280 of 2012 ) to specify the bulk mail services to be provided by a universal postal service provider relating to the provision of a universal postal service. The Commission for Communications Regulation is making these Regulations under the powers conferred upon it by section 16 (9) of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 .