An Post will raise the price of postage stamps from next month, it announced on Friday .

The new rate rise for sending a domestic stamp from 70 of 72 cent will sit “well below the EU average”, it said. The increase will come into effect on July 21st. The standard international letter rate up to 100g will also increase from €1.05 to €1.10.

Ireland’s domestic postage rate will be the 12th most expensive of 15 EU countries according to data provided by An Post.

Denmark tops that poll with a €2.20 charge for an internal letter while UK, in 10th position, charges marginally more than Ireland at 78 cent.

The cheapest places in Europe to send a letter are Spain and Luxembourg at 59 cent and 69 cent respectively.

“An Post has, over a number of years, invested in a programme of efficiency and cost reduction measures linked to the introduction of new products and services for customers,” it said.

“However the significant cost of supporting An Post’s Universal Service Obligation (USO) will require attention.

“The USO requires An Post to provide daily collection and delivery service to all areas of the country for a uniform tariff. In 2015 the cost of maintaining the USO was €32.3m.”