Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the contract extension announced between his Department and a company (details supplied) for the National Postcode System (Eircode) requires additional expenditure of public money by Government in excess of the €38 million already spent on the contract due to expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56175/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, assigns Eircodes to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on all new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses and Tailte Éireann (formerly Ordnance Survey Ireland) provides the geo-locations for these buildings. An Post GeoDirectory (APG), a subsidiary company of An Post and Tailte Éireann, issue a new release of database files monthly and quarterly to Capita in accordance with their revised licence agreement.

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 ((finder.eircode.ie/#/) with a total of 159 million look-ups and a monthly average of 2.5 million. Independent research carried out by Amárach Research in 2023, 2020, 2017 and 2015 showed that 97%, 93%, 84% and 89% respectively of respondents know the Eircode for their address, exceeding public awareness targets. Also, there are 2,423 business organisations and state agencies licensing Eircodes within their business systems and operations across a wide spectrum of sectors, including the leading satnav providers.

In recognition of the fact that earlier assignment of Eircodes for new builds is desirable, Capita have now reduced the timeframe to assign Eircodes from quarterly to a monthly basis. This followed a successful pilot project undertaken by Capita, supported by my Department, working intensively with An Post, Ordnance Survey Ireland and An Post GeoDirectory. All new Eircodes will be published on the free to use Eircode Finder website, a notification letter will be issued to the property occupant containing the new Eircode and an updated Eircode Database files will be provided to licensed businesses for their use. The average number of new Eircodes assigned per month is 3,550.

The expected cost to the Exchequer over the initial ten-year period will be €40m (inc. VAT), with additional costs attributed to increased frequency of Eircode assignment on a monthly basis until contract expiry. The three-year extension is expected to cost a further €8m (inc. VAT).