Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, there are ongoing discussions with An Coimisinéir Teanga in respect of the issues he has raised and we are hoping to progress them. In regard to Eircode, we have no plans whatsoever to change it, in fact I was one of the earliest people to take up Eircode. As I said in the Dáil, I have had the same reservations on Eircode, in particular the annexation of large parts of my own county, something I am not one bit happy about. I think those in counties that have large conurbations close to them have that issue. Eircode has the potential to save lives. I sent out 53,000 pieces of literature encouraging people to record their Eircode so that they could pass it on to the ambulance service if they so required. This was because of particular problems I have had in my constituency with ambulance delays, a problem experienced right across rural Ireland. I think there would always be a long lead-in time in respect of Eircode and it will take a number of years for people to know their Eircode and to use it openly but even within the next 12 to 18 months, I think there will be a far greater uptake .

It is roughly 12 months since it was launched. I think it is a very positive development that the ambulance service has taken it up. I think other emergency services will take it up and members will see other providers roll out the use of it in the next period of time.