THE HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) has backed a postcode system that would locate individual properties instead of the model proposed by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan, which would identify clusters of houses.
A cross-party Oireachtas communications committee report has recommended postcodes capable of pinpointing individual addresses, with Opposition TDs claiming the Government wants to use “yesterday’s technology” to introduce a nationwide system next year.
In a submission to the report, the HSE’s health information unit said a so-called “unique identifier” model could minimise response time for emergency services. “We suggest that the Government has an excellent opportunity to adopt the most innovative, pragmatic and practical address-finding system in the world,” it said. “This is preferable to simply adopting an approach designed for an earlier era predating the technologies and service requirements of a modern society.”
Labour’s communications spokeswoman Liz McManus, the Oireachtas committee’s rapporteur, yesterday said Mr Ryan was planning to introduce an “old-fashioned” postcode system and urged him to consider the committee’s recommendation.
“I do not believe that the Government’s preferred option of a postcode system based on clusters of 40-50 properties is appropriate for the current and future needs of the ‘smart economy’,” Ms McManus said.
Ms McManus has also proposed one month’s free postage for everyone who used postcodes when they are introduced. Legislation could be introduced, if necessary, to deal with issues relating to data protection, she said.
Fine Gael communications spokesman Simon Coveney warned: “We are making a big mistake in essentially inviting tenders to introduce a postcode system in Ireland which is cluster-based or area-code based.
“That in my view is a very expensive way to put in place yesterday’s technology when there are much more exciting and much more accurate ways of pinpointing buildings around the country.”
A spokeswoman for the Minister said he was going to read the committee’s report in detail, “and is very happy to engage with the committee on the introduction of postcodes to Ireland”. In September last year, Mr Ryan announced a national postcode system would be introduced from 2011. He said the system would bring faster and more accurate postal delivery and the initial set-up cost, which he estimated at €10-€15 million, would be justified by the returns across the economy.
Ireland is the only EU country not to have a postcode system.
