Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1084. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to set out his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the introduction of a new post code system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41424/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department commenced a 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. The choice of postcode operator was restricted to those companies who participated in the procurement process - this did not include the company Loc 8 Code as they did not enter the process.

On 8 October 2013, the Government approved the appointment of Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited as the company which will develop, roll-out and operate the National Postcode System.

During the tender process for the project, the consultants retained by the Department evaluated a range of options for the postcode structure, including the recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee. After detailed consideration an approach using a unique identifier was recommended to Government and the postcode design and brand ‘Eircode’ was approved by Government in April this year.

There has been widespread support from both public sector bodies and private businesses with particular interest from the retail and financial industries for the introduction of postcodes nationally. In addition, the emergency services see the introduction of postcodes as facilitating the speedier deployment of their services. An Post, who were actively involved in the design process, and who are fully committed to using Eircodes, are currently updating their mail sortation systems to fully integrate with Eircodes. Eircodes will facilitate improved efficiencies and quality improvements in the mails sector and provide a stimulus to mail volumes through improved marketing capabilities. The consortium developing the system has also undertaken a significant programme of business engagement with both private and public stakeholders. The unique identifier will be particularly useful in identifying the 35% of addresses in Ireland which are non-unique.

Concerns have been expressed by a number of logistics bodies in connection with the Eircode, most specifically in relation to the non-sequential nature of Eircodes. Capita, the Postcode Management Licence Holder, has met with a number of these bodies to discuss these concerns and to, inter alia, explain that a sequential postcode structure is not feasible or necessary.

The Government is fully committed to introducing Eircodes and they are expected to be launched by the middle of next year.