Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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257. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when Eircode will be operational; the efforts that are being made to assist businesses and households with the transition involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25327/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Capita Business Support Services Ireland were awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop and implement the National Postcode System. The design for the System was approved by Government in April, 2014 and the 'Eircode' brand was also launched at that stage. The project is currently in the implementation phase and due to go live this July. The dissemination phase will then commence with the delivery by post of a unique eircode to every address in Ireland. The Eircode website, , was launched in April 2014. This website has information on Eircodes for both residents and businesses. The Eircode team has briefed businesses through a series of seminars and are continuing to work with them to prepare for Eircodes.

A national information campaign has commenced to inform the public about Eircodes and promote their usage. This campaign will include advertisements in the national media, including TV, radio and newspapers. Television and radio ads will focus on the benefits to the public including the fact that Eircodes make it easier to find addresses. Regional press ads will provide information on Eircodes and advise locally when people can expect to receive their Eircode letter.

An integral element of the communications strategy is a Community Outreach Programme for Eircodes using networks of community and voluntary organisations, in conjunction with the Wheel and Irish Rural Link. The aim of this programme is provide information on Eircodes and their benefits to people and groups that mainstream communications might not reach. This approach will allow local concerns to be addressed locally in a timely manner.

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 258, 259, 266 and 267 together.

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 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. A number of companies participated in the procurement process. Three parties qualified following Stage 1 of the process. My Department subsequently received two final bids from consortia led by Capita and An Post. In October, 2013, the Government approved the award of a contract to Capita Business Services Ireland Limited.

My Department received correspondence from the EU Commission in August, 2012 regarding certain aspects of the procurement process. The case was fully examined by the Commission which informed the Department in November, 2013 that the matter had been closed on the basis that the Commission could not establish any breach of EU procurement law that would justify the opening of an infringement procedure. The Irish authorities, however, were requested to take measures in relation to the clarity of language to be used in relation to bids by consortia in future procurements.

In reply to a question from the European Parliament on the procurement process for the postcodes project, the then European Commissioner for the Internal Market stated on 14 May 2014 as follows:

The Commission received a complaint regarding the tendering procedure in question, it conducted an investigation into the matter.

After having received the requested clarifications from the Irish authorities, the Commission closed the file. Based on the available information, the Commission departments could not establish any violation of EU public procurement law that would justify the opening of an infringement procedure.

In April, 2015 in further correspondence, the EU Commission asked for additional information on the measures that have been adopted by the Irish authorities to avoid the possible misinterpretation of the language which arose in the pre-qualification questionnaire. My Department have responded to this request having consulted with the Office of Government Procurement.