Dáil debates

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

3:00 pm

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his answer, which is almost identical to the answer he gave in November. The reason I tabled the question is because I believe the Minister is making a big mistake. He is correct to suggest a geo-coordinates based system would allow some compatibility with a GPS, global positioning system, but the problem is the coordinates used would be in the middle of a district relevant to between 20 and 50 houses. This was outlined in the Minister's report. It will cost approximately €15 million to implement a new postal code system in Ireland after all the work is done and the money spent. I strongly support the idea but there are issues for a HSE ambulance, a courier or a postman that does not know the area. Is it not the case that the new post code system the Minister proposes to introduce will not bring the person with a letter or service directly to a person's door or address without having local knowledge of the area? If this is the case, is it not a waste of money to introduce a post code system that merely slightly improves what is in place at present - which requires local knowledge for postal delivery - when there is an alternative available which can pinpoint a person's property accurately through a GPS based model and that is being introduced on a commercial basis anyway by the private sector? Couriers are buying into and the HSE is examining such a system.

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