A decision on whether to increase the cost of posting letters and packets is expected to be made within two months.
An Post has applied for a price rise in postage ranging from 7c on a basic stamp bringing it to 48c, to a doubling of the 47c price for a 50g packet.
The company has confirmed it made an application last week to the regulator, but a spokesman declined to give details of the increases sought on the grounds that they were confidential.
The application was made to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and if an increase is agreed it could be in place by August. The regulator is expected to post the application on its website and invite people to comment.
An Post says that it is operating at 1991 price levels and that Ireland has the third cheapest postal rate in the EU. Only Greece and Spain are cheaper.
An Post's letter post business lost €6.7 million in 2001. This followed a €19.3 million loss on the international inbound part of the business. This contrasts with the €5.1 million profit it made on outbound international mail and its €7.5 million profit on domestic letter post.
The price rise application comes as a survey revealed that only three out of four items of ordinary mail are delivered by An Post the day after posting.
