Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will lay before Dáil Éireann the feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis produced by ComReg on the introduction of postcodes; if he will introduce a general consultation process on the introduction of postcodes; the timeframe of when the proposed postcodes will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33431/06]

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the cost of the introduction of post codes; if An Post has previously had in place a similar coding system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33525/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 76 together.

Ireland is one of the few developed countries that does not have a postcode. As regards An Post's current coding system, it has characteristics that impact upon its suitability for use as a public postcode system and it is not consistent with the generally accepted definition of a postcode as a "unique, universal identifier that unambiguously identifies the addressee's locality and assists in the transmission and sorting of mail items." An Post has also advised that it is not a publicly available postcode system.

In order to examine the introduction of a postcode system in Ireland, I established a Working Group, which published its report last year.

Following from the group's report, I asked the Commission for Communications Regulation (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.

The board has now presented to me for my consideration its recommendation as to the most appropriate postcode system for Ireland, the costs and benefits arising from its introduction along with a detailed implementation plan. I am now considering the next steps including any government approvals, tender processes, legislative requirements and administrative supports required to introduce the recommended model by 2008.