‘Post codes will bring significant opportunities’

Emergency response times in rural areas will be boosted by the introduction of post codes from next spring, Pat Rabbitte, the communications minister, has indicated.

Mr Rabbitte defended the €24m cost of rolling out the Eircode system, insisting that it will boost economic growth.

He said the electronic system would allow medical help to get to isolated areas more quickly, as nearly one third of homes, mostly in rural areas, currently do not have a unique address