Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which postcodes are expected to be used to improve the viability of An Post and the quality of service to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26559/06]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the total cost of the introduction of postcodes; the revenue expected to be generated therefrom in a single year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26547/06]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has had meetings with An Post or unions regarding his pledge to have new postcodes in place by 2008; and if he has taken their concerns on board. [26504/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 66 and 82 together.

In order to examine the introduction of a postcode system in Ireland, I established a Working Group comprised of people with experience of the postal sector, together with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which is the lead Department for the Irish Spatial Data Infrastructure Initiative to examine the issue of the introduction of a postcode system in Ireland.

This group produced its report last year which found that the introduction of a publicly available postcode could deliver many potential benefits by improving efficiencies and quality in the postal sector, stimulating mail volume growth, assisting utilities and emergency services and assisting in the delivery of Government services.

To further investigate the matter, I asked ComReg to appoint consultants with the specialist expertise to provide technical and economic advice including assessing the costs and benefits of the introduction of a postcode. ComReg appointed both technical and economic consultants. I appointed a National Postcode Project Board, comprising representatives of Government departments, together with public and private sector organisations to oversee the work and output of the consultants.

One constituent part of the consultants' work programmes was that they were to engage in a process of stakeholder consultation with a view to arriving at a postcode model that best meets the needs of the stakeholders and measures the likely costs and benefits of the introduction of such a postcode.

Both the technical and cost benefit advisors to the project engaged have concluded their consultations with key stakeholders including An Post and its union and are now finalising their reports to the postcode board the most appropriate postcode system for Ireland, the costs and benefits arising from its introduction along with a detailed implementation plan. The board will then present its recommendation to me for my consideration in the coming week.