Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2015
1540. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30700/15]
View answerThe most comprehensive address database available in the country is the postal address database, which is owned by Geo-directory, a subsidiary company of An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland. The Eircode database is derived from this source and the addresses contained in the database are postal addresses used by An Post as opposed to geographical addresses. The postal address is used to ensure the correct routing of mail to individual addresses and for this reason the postal and geographical addresses may differ for some premises, for example in the Tralee/Dingle instance referenced in the Question. The introduction of Eircodes has not changed this. While An Post uses the postal address to effect postal delivery, individuals are entitled to append the Eircode to whatever form of address is normally used.
Similarly, the provision of Irish language addresses in the Eircode Database is solely derived from the GeoDirectory database. GeoDirectory aims to include the verified official Irish translations of addresses within the database where available, using translations from an Brainse Logainmneacha and Ordnance Survey Ireland. GeoDirectory and An Brainse Logainmneacha are currently exchanging English and Irish postal address data to identify any issues and discrepancies that may exist between the databases. This analysis will facilitate the provision of existing up-to-date official Irish translations for postal addresses in the GeoDirectory database that will be made available in the Eircode Database.
