Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In December 2013, a ten year contract was signed with Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited to develop, roll-out and operate the national postcode system, following a public procurement process.

The design for the national postcode system was approved by Government in April 2014. The Eircode brand was launched for the national postcode system on 28 April 2014. The project is currently in the implementation phase.

The public awareness campaign began in April 2014 with the launch of the website . This website has information on Eircodes for both residents and businesses. The postcode management licence holder has briefed businesses in the interim through a series of seminars.

In order to support dissemination of Eircodes, the databases of large public sector bodies will be Eircode enabled, which means that public sector bodies with large customer-facing databases will be in a position to use immediately the codes on launch. The work on preparation of these public service databases to receive Eircodes concluded last month.

A comprehensive national information campaign will commence shortly to inform the public about Eircodes and promote their usage. The campaign will include outreach activities to ensure the residents and businesses nationwide, and especially the vulnerable and hard to reach, will receive information on Eircodes in a timely manner.

The dissemination phase will then commence to deliver by post a unique postcode to every address in Ireland. It is expected that the national postcode system will be live by the summer of this year.

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