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An Post confident over Christmas deliveries despite 150k backlog

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An Post say they expect to receive approximately 350,000 UK parcels over the next 24 hours

There is confidence Christmas delivers will arrive in Ireland on time despite a backlog of 150,000 parcels in Wales, the Irish postal service An Post has said.

The backlog has happened because of Holyhead Port's temporary closure caused by damage following Storm Darragh.

Sailings from the port have been suspended until 19 December with the potential for further cancellations.

The closure is expected to affect those travelling over the festive period.

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Holyhead Port has been closed as a result of Storm Darragh

It had previously been hoped the port would have reopened by now.

An Post chief executive David McRedmond said he was confident that everything ordered from within Ireland that arrives with the postal service before 21 December will be delivered for Christmas.

He added that the Holyhead issues were a "big problem" but that the backlog is "entirely manageable" and deliveries are coming through Fishguard, Liverpool and Larne.

However, Mr McRedmond told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that An Post was not counting on Holyhead Port reopening before Christmas.

The port handles passenger traffic services operated by both Stena Line and Irish Ferries.

Stena Line Ports confirmed that it remains closed to all maritime traffic while checks on the extent of the damage continue.

A spokesperson for Irish Ferries said the damage to port infrastructure had not been caused by one of their vessels.

They added: "Irish Ferries continues to liaise closely with customers booked to travel on the route in making alternative arrangements."

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Sailings from the port have been cancelled until December 19th

Situation 'disastrous' for businesses

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) said its members are "really going to struggle" to deliver freight to both the high street and online consumers in time for Christmas Day.

He described the situation as "disastrous" stating that freight is currently "lying idle" at both Holyhead and Dublin ports, with alternative routes fully booked.

Mr Hyland told RTÉ he was concerned many last-minute goods, including books, fragrances, and Christmas produce, may not reach shelves in time, leaving them worthless in January.

He also noted a shortage of drivers, with around one in five returning to their home countries in Eastern Europe. He said this means that freight will now need to be transported by other workers.

Simon McKeever, of Irish Exporters, said he was frustrated by the situation.

"From an Irish point of view it's impacting manufacturing business because they're waiting for critical inputs, the raw materials to turn it and send it back off the island," he said.

He added that delays would also hit consumers, with the trailers stuck in Holyhead and Dublin containing "a bit of everything" from pharmaceuticals to foods.

"If this goes into next week, and it goes into the additional amounts of passenger volumes that will be on with their vehicles on those vessels, then we're going to have a problem."

Mr McKeever said the Welsh government had been "extremely helpful" this week, but that both Welsh and Irish governments would need to intervene if there are further delays reopening the port.

"I know they are active in this as well," he said, adding that "there's a higher level of coordination that will be required if the port doesn't open" on Friday afternoon.