Ryan defends plan for €15m post code system

MINISTER FOR Communications Eamon Ryanhas rejected Fine Gael claims that a proposed new postal code system will "merely slightly improve what is in place at present".

Fine Gael communications spokesman Simon Coveneyclaimed during Dáil questions yesterday that the new postal system would cost €15 million to implement and "the system the Minister proposes to introduce will not bring the person with a letter or service directly to a person's door or address without having local knowledge of the area".

The Cork South Central TD said Mr Ryan had previously stated the postal system would only pinpoint areas on the basis of a code down to the nearest 20 or 50 properties.

“If such a system were introduced to rural Ireland with the ability to narrow down to between 20 and 50 properties, such a service would be no better than that which currently exists with the use of local districts or townlands.”

Mr Ryan said however: “The case is not as set out by Deputy Coveney”.

He told the House he would “within a week” start a “competitive process which should deliver quickly in terms of the exact system we introduce”.

The Minister stressed: “I am not rejecting any accurate system. It will be up to the competitive tendering process to decide on which system.”

Mr Ryan added: “Post codes are right for this country and, as well as providing an effective postal code system, they should have capability to provide location code facilities for a range of applications that will develop as the smart economy evolves.”