Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

118. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if An Post will be using the proposed new Capita postcode; if so, will the company adjust the sorting technology to use postcodes, what will this change cost and who will pay for it; whether An Post's costs are included in the Government's predicted cost of the postcode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19949/14]

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 11 March my party colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty, tabled a parliamentary question asking the Minister to send him a copy of correspondence received from the European Commission on the procurement process for the national postcode system. As yet, he has not received the information sought from the Minister's office. Will the Minister make the information available to him and me?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This question does not relate to Deputy Pearse Doherty.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes, it does.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We cannot deal with another Deputy in dealing with the issue.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

If Deputy Pearse Doherty communicates with my Department, of course, he will receive a reply.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We cannot waste time on this. There is a two-minute limit and other Deputies are waiting to ask their questions.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I launched the Eircode brand for a national postcode system on 28 April. In spring 2015, every Irish address will get a unique code, which will bring many benefits to the daily lives of people, householders and businesses. Since a contract to deliver the project was signed with Capita, considerable progress has been made on design and engagement with public and private sector stakeholders who see significant benefits and opportunities arising from the introduction of Eircodes. An Post has been actively involved in the design process for the national postcode system and is committed to using the new Eircodes, which will be fully integrated with An Post's mails sortation systems. Any integration cost will be part of An Post's overall capital expenditure programme.

An Post's mails integration costs are not included in the predicted €26 million Exchequer cost of introducing a national postcode system. At least half of this €26 million investment will go towards the improvement of public service databases, bringing considerable long-term efficiencies and savings in the delivery of public services. Regarding An Post's costs, the CEO has stated that it will cost €1 million to install new software in the four mails sortation centres. The benefits of Eircodes to An Post will significantly outweigh any cost arising from their implementation. The national postcode system will facilitate improved efficiencies and quality improvements in the mails sector and provide a stimulus to mail volumes through improved marketing capabilities.

Parcel and mail deliveries from An Post and other delivery and logistics companies will be able to use the new postcode system to identify quickly the location of a single house set in the countryside or an apartment in a newly developed multi-storey. The Eircode will integrate with GPS devices and smartphones and can be easily mapped onto any defined national boundary set, such as counties, electoral districts and small areas.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was hoping to accelerate this process. Much of the information would have been available had we received a copy of the correspondence from the European Commission in respect of the procurement process for the national postcode system. Could that correspondence be made available?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The process, which was a competitive dialogue, was entirely open. Capita was selected on the basis that it was the preferred bidder. Many forecast that An Post would be selected. It was not in the event. Capita has a track record in this general area. It employs approximately 1,000 people in Ireland. At a public presentation last week or the previous week - I cannot recall which - it set out its stall in front of stakeholders and the media and took questions about the unique identifier system that would be implemented for Ireland.

We are coming late to the party, so to speak. We are the only country in the OECD that does not have a postcode system. The new system brings the advantage of being able to avail of the latest technologies. As a result, we will have a world leading unique identifier system, established in a country where some 35% of addresses are not unique. The business community has been mounting growing pressure on the Department and me during the past year as regards what it views as the possibilities presenting in the era of digital technology and digital enterprise. The community believes that this will grow business and jobs. An Post believes that it will add to its own bottom line.