Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It was more of a conversation than a question and answer session.

I welcome the Eircode representatives. It is so long since the initial statement was made, one would nearly want to have a rewind function. The delegates mentioned that they wanted to avoid socially generated addresses that would associate people with different strata of society. In that context, why not get rid of the Dublin area numbers? If the Eircode system will work as well as the representatives say it will, why is there a need to retain the Dublin area codes?

According to media reports, there was a degree of criticism of the Department by the European Commission about its failure to include companies below a certain turnover level in the initial tendering process. Has the Department replied to the Commission's criticism? Although the Commission did not stop the process, it was critical of the Department's position of blocking some companies from tendering. In this blocking of some companies from tendering, Eircode, either intentionally or otherwise, blocked an existing system developed in Cork from being eligible for consideration. Given that the Commission was critical of Eircode, according to media reports, what impact has it had on the selection of the chosen system?

In regard to the use of the Eircode system, An Post has indicated that it is not ready to use it. I presume An Post will be making a capital investment to develop a system that meets the requirements of Eircode. How much capital has An Post set aside to implement such a system? Ms Cronin has noted that as new properties come on board, new codes will need to be generated. What is the annual cost of running a system that generates codes for new properties?

On Deputy Noel Harrington's point about the absence of a pilot scheme, the pilot scheme will include the entire State. If it goes wrong, it will go wrong for the entire State. Would it not have been a good idea to begin with an individual county with large urban and rural bases?

Mr. Allen has indicated that he met representatives of those who will be using the system in the future. What capital costs will the typical haulier or delivery agency incur in developing a system that can use the unique identifier system? Presumably, the consumer will ultimately meet the cost.

In regard to the ongoing costs of Eircode, will it be a stand-alone entity in the Department and who will identify new properties? We had difficulties recently with water charges and property taxes for granny flats. Has Eircode learned any lesson from the property tax experience in identifying properties for the purpose of collecting the tax? How has it identified properties that are taxed separately but located on the same site?