Fine Gael TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon, has this week welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte, that a competitive tendering process for a national postcode system is now at its final stage and that, after his Department considers the tenders received by interested parties, a definitive decision should be made in September.
“I am very pleased to hear that Minister Rabbitte’s plans to introduce national postcodes are at an advanced stage. In this day and age, it is surprising that every town and village outside of Dublin does not have a postcode.
“This is a significant development which is long overdue. Not only will it ensure that mistakes, such as an ambulance being sent to a town in the wrong county which recently led to a tragic and unnecessary loss of life, will not be made, but it will also have a major impact on businesses in the country.
“Postcodes can reduce the cost of doing business through supply-chain benefits and lower administration, but they can also bring wider societal and economic benefits. These include; improved spatial data analysis, which will enable the health service with planning and population research; the provision of information to plan for new infrastructure and other Government expenditure; and improving charities’ abilities to profile the most appropriate target audience.
“I welcome this initiative and I look forward to hearing about the next stage in this process once the tenders are submitted in August and Minister Rabbitte brings a comprehensive proposal to the Government for approval in September.”