The Eircode system of postal address identifiers is due for launch in early July, which will see all 2.2 million addresses in Ireland assigned a unique seven-digit alphanumeric location code. The government initiative is being rolled out primarily as a means of avoiding logistical mix-ups around similar sounding or oft-misspelled postal addresses, which is a particular problem outside Dublin.

A survey carried out in December 2014 by Data Ireland asked businesses their thoughts on Eircode – one-third expected benefits, half didn’t anticipate much change either way and 4% expressed concern.

Capita Business Support Services Ireland secured the government contract to operate Eircode and Liam Duggan, director of business development, is heading up the Eircode project. He isn’t anticipating any significant problems and points out that for companies Eircode’s usefulness will depend on what type of business they are.

“If you’re a logistics business, the benefits are obvious. But if you’re a small business and your customers are in your local area, you might not need to use Eircode as much. A small business can choose whether or not they want to update their customer databases and when to do it. There’s no obligation on them to use the Eircode system.”

Misgivings are still emanating from Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI), which says its members won’t be using Eircode in their current format. One of the group’s chief complaints is with the non-sequential use of Eircodes for adjacent premises, which it says will stymie effective deliveries. It is also claiming that small businesses won’t be able to afford to implement Eircode.

In Association with

Liam Duggan, Eircode

Duggan thinks otherwise. “The FTA response is a storm in a teacup and disingenuous too. The group represents a very small number of delivery companies in Ireland and a small number of the deliveries that take place in Ireland. They’re not speaking for the industry as a whole, even if their name sounds like it,” he maintains.

“We have a problem with non-unique addresses in Ireland. When these delivery firms can’t find an address, they hand off the delivery to An Post to deliver on their behalf, so they are being disingenuous in criticising Eircode. With Eircode you get an actual unique address point. You can’t get more accurate than that.”

However, the FTA isn’t taking the Eircode system lying down and in July the association called on the European Commission to investigate the Irish government’s decision to press ahead with the introduction of Eircode. The objection is grounded on breach of state aid rules.

FTA Ireland General Manager Neil McDonnell said: “We can’t allow Eirecode to be pushed through unchallenged because it is fundamentally flawed.  There was no consultation, the system is not fit for purpose and, more importantly, we believe it breaches state aid rules.

“Eircode will place a huge burden of cost on users without delivering an effective postcode system.  It is simply lining the pockets of the state post office and we are calling on the EU to investigate.”

Many FTAI members say they won’t use the planned seven-character code for their businesses because it is unworkable, choosing instead to use the three-character routing key at the start of each Eirecode to group deliveries into small areas.

McDonnell added: “Eirecode is not a postcode, it is a postal identifier for databases.  Its number and letter sequences don’t run in order so neighbouring properties could have completely unrelated codes.  They might as well use electricity meter numbers, it’s that random.

“Eirecode will be worthless to the freight, parcel, passenger, energy, agriculture, or tourism sectors, or anyone else who requires a simple, logical, structured system for locating and navigating delivery points.”

Businesses have a number of options open to them in terms of how to manage the Eircode system for themselves and their clients. The first task will be to include Eircodes as a new line in their business addresses, although using the code is not compulsory for anyone.

After that, businesses can collect Eircodes from their customers individually, or they can purchase packaged Eircode data products directly from Eircode or an official Eircode provider.