Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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606. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update regarding the geo coding project; when he expects it to be operational and the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37032/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The design for the National Postcode System was approved by Government last April. The brand ‘Eircode’ was launched for the National Postcode System on 28 April 2014. The project is currently in implementation phase and is scheduled to roll out nationwide by the middle of 2015. Every Irish address will receive a unique Eircode.

The cost to the Exchequer of the National Postcode System over the 10 year cycle of the contract is expected to be €26m (ex VAT) with costs covering design, database upgrades, media and postcode distribution. Additional information about Eircodes is now available on the website .

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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607. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of different proposals that were submitted as part of the tendering process for the postcode system subsequently awarded to Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37102/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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My Department commenced the procurement process for a National Postcode System in 2011. An open and competitive procurement process was conducted in accordance with Department of Finance and EU procurement frameworks.

A pre- qualification questionnaire was issued on on 17 January 2011. This invited interested parties to tender for the contract as a postcode management licence holder for a period of 10 years to design, provide, disseminate and maintain a National Postcode System. This procurement process followed the Negotiated Procedure under the relevant EU Regulations. Given the technical complexity of the project, the Department ran the procurement following a competitive dialogue procedure provided for in the Public Supply and Works Directive.

Three parties qualified following Stage 1 of the procurement process. Landmark, a UK company, withdrew from the process at the final tender stage. The Department subsequently received two final bids from consortia led by Capita and An Post. In December 2013 a ten-year contract with Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited was signed.