Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Ireland is the only country in the EU and OECD that does not have a national postcode, and this Government is strongly committed to introducing a national postcode system. Such a system will be a vital part of the national infrastructure.

On 8 October 2013, I obtained Government approval for the launch of a new national postcode system that will provide a unique seven character code to every letterbox in the State in 2015. The Government has also approved, subject to contract, the appointment of a consortium headed by Capita Ireland as the company which will develop, roll out and operate the postcode system. This announcement follows a procurement process run by my Department.

Most countries have had the benefit of postcodes since the mid-1900s. In making the move now, Ireland has been able to use the technology and systems available today to move to the next generation system. The Irish code will be the first in the world to be unique to each individual address. This will alleviate the current situation whereby more than 30% of all domestic addresses are not unique. It will mean that even apartments and offices in large developments will have an individual code as long as they use their own specific postboxes.

To address any concerns regarding the introduction of a granular postcode system, my Department has engaged with the Data Protection Commissioner’s office on the national postcode system during the procurement process. The commissioner's office has been advised of, and has noted, the rationale and policy justification for the approach suggested for postcode roll-out and implementation.

It should be noted that the provisions of data protection legislation will continue to apply to all holders of personal data linked to postcodes and that unauthorised access to or use of that information will be in breach of the law. In addition, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is statutorily charged with independently investigating any complaints raised regarding any national postcode system.

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