An Post has said it will need to cut staff numbers by almost 2,000 by 2015 to cope with the recession, increased competition and falling mail volumes.
The company had previously set a target of cutting 1,300 jobs in a three-year programme running up to 2012. It said today a planned reduction of around 1,900 people by 2015 - including 330 who left the company last year - would be done through voluntary schemes and non-replacement of staff.
The cut in the workforce will be across all areas of the business, and is part of a continuing review of the whole company.
An Post today reported a loss after tax of almost €25m for last year, mainly due to the extra costs linked to a voluntary redundancy programme.
The company said its trading profit increased slightly to €5.8m, helped by a 3.5% reduction in its day-to-day costs, as turnover also edged up to €805m.
An Post said the volume of traditional mail sent last year fell by around 7%, with a full 1% decline blamed on severe weather at the end of the year. Mail turnover dropped by 2.4% to €552.3m.
The company said it was facing the continuing effects of the recession, as well as increased competition and greater use of electronic methods of communication..
An Post recorded an after-tax loss of €24.7m, as there was a once-off cost of €20m for a voluntary redundancy and early retirement scheme, as well as a €3.9m charge linked to its pension fund.
Chairman John Fitzgerald said the company was adapting to new realities in the Irish economy and the world postal market.
