Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2006
110 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in the context of the future development of postal and packaging services here and notwithstanding his previous references to postal services in other European countries, he will have due regard for the topographic and geographic nature of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38771/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters relating to the provision of postal services are in the first instance a matter for the board and management of An Post. The standards of service delivery in the postal sector are set out in the two European postal directives, which outline the universal service obligations to which universal service providers including An Post, must comply. The USO currently requires the provision of collection and delivery services 5 days per week, regardless of geographic location. There are no proposals to change this requirement in the context of future liberalisation of the postal sector.
111 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the Government will respond to the new proposal by European Commissioner Mr. Charlie McCreevy on abolishing the reserved areas for national postal operators for letters below 50 grammes; his views on the concerns of Ireland’s EU partner States such as France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium and Greece that Commissioner McCreevy’s proposal will weaken customer service in the postal sector and lead to thousands of jobs losses; the way or the model by which he proposes to maintain the universal service obligation; if he will establish a new comprehensive postal services strategy to ensure that An Post is robust enough to meet the challenges of the fully liberalised market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38846/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 39126 of 21st November 2006.
112 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the cost of post codes; the degree of implementation; the benefit to consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38795/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra150 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will immediately publish and lay before Dáil Éireann the feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis produced by ComReg on the introduction of postcodes; when he is planning to introduce postcodes; if there will be a general consultation process before a system of postcodes is introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38861/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 150 together.
The generally accepted definition of a postcode is a unique, universal identifier that unambiguously identifies the addressee's locality and assists in the transmission and sorting of mail items.
The introduction of a postcode system in Ireland would assist with improving efficiencies in the sorting and delivery processes for postal items and would also help facilitate new entrants to the market, should the EU postal market be liberalised in the future. Ireland is one of the few developed countries that does not have a postcode.
The National Postcode Project Board (NPPB) has now presented to me for consideration its recommendation as to the most appropriate postcode system for Ireland, the costs and benefits arising from its introduction along with a detailed implementation plan. As part of its analysis, the NPPB's advisers carried out an extensive consultation with stakeholders both within the postal sector and outside it with a view to arriving at a postcode model that best meets the needs of the stakeholders and measures the likely costs and benefits of the introduction of such a postcode.
I am now considering the next steps including any Government approvals, tender processes, legislative requirements and administrative supports required to introduce the recommended model by 2008.
