Background
An Post, the Irish postal administration, came into being in 1984 when, under the terms of the Postal & Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, the postal services of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs (P&T) were divided between two new organizations: An Post and Telecom Éireann (the latter being the telecommunications operator now called Eircom). At its inception, during the early years of the Irish Free State, the Department of Posts and Telegraphs was the country's largest department of state, and its employees (most of them postmen) constituted the largest sector of the civil service. Prior to this the postal service in Ireland had been under the control of the General Post Office that was established in 1660.
Today An Post remains one of the largest employers in the State, although it has undergone considerable downsizing. It is still loss-making in parts.
The Irish government announced the introduction of a postcode system in Ireland from 2008 though An Post was against the system, saying it is unnecessary. The date for introduction of the system remains open given the new Minister's assertion that additional public consultation is required. However, by September 2011, no postcode system had been introduced.
Read more about this topic: An Post
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