Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding his policy on postcodes; the cost of implementation; the cost of consultancy on this issue to date; if he has examined whether GPS will make postcodes redundant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24054/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a postcode system. In this regard, the National Postcode Project Board (NPPB) presented its recommendation in July 2006 as to the most appropriate postcode system for Ireland, the costs and benefits arising from its introduction along with a detailed implementation, promotion and maintenance plan. The board was assisted by technical and economic consultants, recruited by ComReg, at a cost of approximately €450,000.

The proposal of the NPPB was to proceed with an alpha-numeric postal sector postcode model and that each postcode would have a geo-coordinate at its centre and consequently would be compatible with GPS and other Global Navigation Satellite Systems. Whilst there are areas of overlap between the two systems, in my view, because of the different uses to which they can be put, satellite technologies will not make postcodes redundant. Indeed with the launch of the Galileo navigation system in 2011, the demand for postcodes should increase. This is because applications based on such systems become much more readily accessible to the public through the use of a postcode.

The report of the board estimated that the cost to the Exchequer of implementing and promoting the postcode would be approximately €15 million.

The Government decided, in May 2007, that prior to the introduction of postcodes, further analysis to quantify the wider economic and societal benefits should be carried out. This analysis has incurred total consultancy fees of €54,450. The resultant report is currently being assessed by my officials with a view to progressing the project and when complete, I expect to bring a further proposal to Government in relation to the introduction of postcodes.