Mr. Mark Griffin:

I have seen considerable progress in the two years since it was introduced. On the previous occasion on which I was before the committee, we discussed the introduction of postcodes in other jurisdictions. It can take many years for the effects to be seen.

I briefly outlined to Deputy MacSharry some of the things that we are starting to see in terms of take-up. The postcode system is being used by the HSE National Ambulance Service very effectively. The Central Statistics Office is using the system for its residential property price index. The National Transport Authority has included the system in its journey planner. It may be of interest to Deputy Cullinane to note that Waterford City & County Council has incorporated Eircode into the online customer management system. The HSE has incorporated it into its primary care reimbursement service and patient care administration system. We are seeing several large logistics companies using it, including CityPOST, DHL and Niteline. The Property Registration Authority is using the system, as is Ordnance Survey Ireland. We have statistics available to suggest that 7,500 active courier delivery drivers used the Eircode app during October. That app has been used 600,000 times since its launch in May 2016. We are seeing the system used far more in retail and e-commerce. A recent Government decision held that all public authorities that are upgrading systems in which there is an address field are to use Eircode. I will add to what I said earlier about the National Ambulance Service. The service is upgrading its fleet. The new fleet will have satnav included and Eircode will be built into the technology.

I am satisfied that we have made considerable progress. Some 800 private sector companies are using Eircode. They operate in the sectors I have mentioned and there are others in the insurance and financial services sectors as well.