Written answers
Thursday, 20 April 2023
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Departmental Contracts
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
144. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the arrangements being made for the tendering for a new contract to develop, implement, maintain and promote the national postcode system, Eircode which is necessary as the current contract expires in December 2023; the progress that he has made in consultation with the stakeholders to expedite the issue of Eircodes; the contractual obligations which the new tendering process stipulate for the new contract in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18643/23]
Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded the contract to develop, implement, maintain and promote the National Postcode System "Eircode" on an initial ten-year period which is extendable at the discretion of the Minister for a further five years, in December 2013. My Department is currently assessing a number of options for the future of Eircodes, post 2023.
Since the launch, Eircode use, as part of an address, continues to grow strongly among the public and businesses and this, in part, can be seen by use of the free-to-use Eircode Finder app with 2.5m average monthly lookups. So, in recognition of the fact that earlier assignment of Eircodes for new builds is desirable I requested An Post, Tailte Éireann, An Post GeoDirectory and Capita, supported by my officials, to increase the frequency of Eircode assignment for new builds from quarterly to a monthly basis.
Capita have released the first monthly assignment of Eircodes in March and each new Eircode is published on the Eircode Finder app. In addition, a notification letter will be issued to the property occupant containing the new Eircode of that address and an updated Eircode Database file is provided to licensed business organisations for their use.
No comments