Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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922. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the efforts his Department and agencies under its remit have made to use Eircode when communicating with households via An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25876/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department does not administer any large schemes aimed at households or the general public which would necessitate the immediate inclusion of Eircode data on to the Department's databases. It will be incorporated into databases on an ongoing basis and as the need arises. The position in relation to bodies under the aegis of the Department is set out below.

The Office of Public Works (OPW)

Eircodes have been incorporated into the OPW style guide for stationery including headed paper, business cards, etc. These will appear on new stationery for Trim, Dublin and Claremorris offices, when existing stocks have been run down. The Eircode for the new Cork Regional Office was incorporated into the new stationery for the new office address. An open data file featuring data for all OPW heritage sites will be made available later this month. This includes Eircodes for the all the sites which have them i.e. sites which receive post.

Public Appointments Service (PAS)

All PAS letterheads have been amended to include its postcode. This letterhead is used for all correspondence with candidates, clients and suppliers. Templates for compliment slips and business cards are also being amended to include the postcode on future orders. The inclusion of a candidates postcode on their application form is being included in a review of PAS's IT platform. This will be included in a candidate portal, which is the first deliverable from the review.

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA)

The IPA is re-designing its application forms for student enrolments to include Eircode as part of the address section. It also forms part of their new student record system in that any correspondence between the Institute and the student includes Eircode in the address (where the student has provided it).

The Office of the Ombudsman

The Office of the Ombudsman has added the Eircode to its address details for:

- contact details on all websites;

- letterheads, business cards and official stationery;

- published documents, booklets and leaflets; and 

- the Ombudsman casebook.

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

The SEUPB does not communicate with households via An Post. Where an Eircode is provided by the individual or organisation requesting information, it is used in any subsequent correspondence.

The State Laboratory

The State Laboratory do not communicate with households.