What will the introduction of postcodes mean for Ireland?

The introduction of postcodes in Ireland has been long debated

, but now finally may be coming to fruition, with Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan stating that a national postcode system will be introduced in 2011. Communications industry regulator Comreg previously recommended that a postal code system similar to other European countries be rolled out across the nation.

As the only member of the European Union not to have a postcode system in place, homes in Ireland receive around half the mail volumes of the EU average. Figures from 2002 revealed that 196 items of post were delivered per head in Ireland that year, compared to a much higher 354 items per head in Britain and an even steeper 372 in Finland, meaning that a postcode system will make it more expedient for advertisers and publishers to reach households.

The fear of increasing junk mail is one of the primary factors cited by those opposed to the introduction of postcodes, including the Green party, but Comreg noted that the ability of advertisers to more effectively target consumers could in fact mean a reduction in corporate mail. The regulator explained that many companies currently hand-deliver unaddressed mail to a wide range of households, and a postcode system would mean they no longer have to waste time, energy and resources 'overshooting' with such a blanket approach.

There are numerous other benefits that citizens and businesses could enjoy from postcode mapping. Not only could friends and relatives find it easier to keep in touch, but location-based technology such as GPS mapping could benefit hugely from such a system, allowing drivers and other map users to work out their location and find directions more easily. Similarly, emergency services could arrive at remote locations more quickly.

Ireland's businesses would receive the greatest benefit from the introduction of postcodes, however. Being able to use business resources such as a postcode finder could save the time and effort involved in searching for and recording client addresses and reducing the number of keystrokes needed for each address by up to 80 per cent, in accordance with the proposed ABC-123 postcode system expected to launch in Ireland next year.

The introduction of postcodes based on longitude and latitude, as is being suggested by numerous private post companies, would not require fresh mapping of Ireland, meaning the switch to a postcode system would not carry additional expenses. Although the originally proposed introduction of postcodes in 2008 was delayed, it now seems postcodes are on the cards for Ireland's citizens, improving communication across the country and developing even closer ties to the EU.

What will the introduction of postcodes mean for Ireland?

By: Paul Buchanan

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