Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 November 2020
165. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn the delay with transferring new Eircode locations to an application (details supplied); the terms of the contracts in place to ensure the transfer happens in a timely manner; if he is satisfied that the terms of the contract are being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39425/20]
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 National Postcode System "Eircode".
Eircodes are assigned 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 licensed businesses for their use. Eircode have informed my Department that over 119,600 property addresses have been assigned an Eircode since the launch in 2015.
Eircode have informed my Department that once the Eircode database is updated they provide updates to commercial operations each quarter in line with the terms of their licence agreements. The timely release of each quarterly update is consistent across all licensed businesses, including the application referred to by the Deputy.
Operational matters and commercial decisions of private commercial operators, including the updating of their applications, are a matter for these commercial operators and one in which I have no direct function.
