Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, when he pledged to progress the delivery of postcodes here, he was in possession of a cost benefit analysis of this system; if so, if he will publish details of same; the initial cost and the ongoing cost of this project; the amount of this that will be financed by the taxpayer; if there will be a general consultation process before a system of postcodes is introduced; the type of postcode system he favours; the time-frame for implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28952/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The National Postcode Project Board was established in 2005 to recommend the most suitable postcode for Ireland. As part of its work on the project, the National Postcode Project Board's technical and economic advisors carried out an extensive consultation with stakeholders, both within the postal sector and outside it with a view to arriving at a postcode model that best meets the needs of the stakeholders. These consultants also measured the likely costs and benefits of the introduction of such a postcode along with a detailed implementation plan including the levels of funding required and how those funding requirements should be met.

The cost of establishing a postcode address database and implementing and promoting the postcode was estimated to be in the region of €15m. There would also be ongoing annual maintenance costs but these could be met from revenues generated by the postcode manager. After consideration of the matter earlier this year, the Government decided that further analysis and quantification of the wider economic and societal benefits of postcodes would be required. Some of the public sector benefits identified by the consultants included better targeted service provision, improved policy formulation, implementation and evaluation, and better profiling of public expenditure.

The commitment to introduce a postcode system in Ireland is contained in the Programme for Government and I am currently considering the issues involved in order to progress the project to the implementation stage.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his preferred options for the development of the postal service in the future; his plans for the utilisation of the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28913/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government's policy with regard to the future development of the postal service, is to ensure Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services on a par with the highest quality standards in key comparator economies elsewhere in the EU. Ensuring that Irish consumers have access to a broad suite of high-quality postal services and the maintenance of the universal service obligation are of key importance to Ireland in the context of the future full liberalisation of the European postal market, which is due to take place in 2011. I intend to hold a public consultation examining the key issues in the draft EU directive, on its ratification early next year.

While the Government will support An Post and its network in any way it can, it is the responsibility of the board and management of the company to make strategic decisions regarding its future, how it will prepare itself for further competition and the number and type of post offices in the network. In preparation for competition, it is vital that the company restructures itself effectively and that management and trade unions in An Post work together to transform the company into an efficient and modern service provider by implementing the agreed restructuring programme.