Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 April 2021
12. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if consideration has been given to changing the way in which Eircodes are allocated to new builds; if consideration has been given to working alongside utility service companies to identify properties in need of an Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22459/21]
View answerCapita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, assign Eircodes to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses and Ordnance Survey Ireland provides the geo-locations for these buildings. An Post GeoDirectory, a subsidiary company of An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland, issue a new release of the GeoDirectory database file on a quarterly basis to Eircode in accordance with their licence agreement. Each new postal address assigned an Eircode is published on the free to use Eircode Finder website, a notification letter is issued to the property occupant containing the Eircode of that address and an updated Eircode Database is provided to licenced businesses for their use. Eircode have informed my Department that over 139,000 property addresses have been assigned an Eircode since the launch in 2015.
Once the Eircode database is updated on a quarterly basis it is then a matter for individual Eircode database providers to release updates to commercial businesses in accordance with the terms of their licence agreements. Householders who have queries relating to the Eircode of their property can contact Eircode by email at hello@eircode.ie or by phone at 0818 300 005
Early assignment of Eircodes is contingent on An Post facilitating the increased frequency of new and changed addresses from quarterly to monthly to Eircode through their subsidiary An Post GeoDirectory. My officials are working with An Post, Ordnance Survey Ireland, An Post GeoDirectory and Eircode to expedite the process of assigning Eircodes for new properties with postal addresses and geo-locations.
