Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
177. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the secondary uses for Eircode that have been formally considered and deemed appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23567/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraCapita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement, maintain and promote the use of the National Postcode System "Eircode".
Since the launch of Eircodes in July 2015, their usage, as part of an address, continues to grow and Eircodes are used widely among the public, businesses and public sector. This, in part, can be seen by use of the free Eircode Finder website. There have been over 69.7 million lookups on the Finder since launch in 2015, with 2.3 million lookups in April 2020 which is a 55% increase on the previous April. During 2019 there were over 18 million free look-ups on the Finder, an increase of 27% on the previous year.
In 2017 an independent nationally representative face-to-face survey conducted by Amárach Research showed 84% of respondents were able to supply a validated Eircode for their address. Other independent research carried out on behalf of Eircode by Amárach Research in 2018 and 2019 showed that 96% and 99% respectively of the Irish public are aware of Eircodes.
Eircode have informed my Department that to-date there are over 1,390 business organisations and state agencies who are licensing Eircodes within their business systems and operations across a wide spectrum of sectors, including logistics/deliveries, emergency services, utilities, hotel, retail, telecommunications, Insurance, financial, food deliveries, service engineers and property management. There are many more businesses using the free Eircode Finder in their day-to-day business operations.
Eircode has licensed 37 approved Eircode Providers who resell Eircode database and products incorporating Eircodes. Many of these Eircode Providers are Irish SME’s and international companies developing business solutions and apps utilising Eircodes for their customers across a wide spectrum of business categories.
Google have integrated Eircodes into Google Maps and other leading satnav providers such as TomTom, Garmin, HERE Navigation and Microsoft have also integrated Eircodes into their satnav apps for use by consumers and businesses.
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) have integrated Eircodes into their dispatch system which means that the patient’s address and the position of the nearest available ambulance can be accurately pinpointed, using the Eircode, on a digital map, enabling an ambulance to be quickly and accurately routed to someone in need of medical help. NAS continue to install their ambulances across the country with Digital Mobile Data Systems that allows responding crews to have the call details sent to their Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) screens together with the Eircode and visual location data in map format to assist with ambulance arrival at the correct location. NAS actively encourage people who are seeking an emergency ambulance to have their Eircode available to pass it on to the call taker.
