State ignored experts’ Eircode advice

Former communications minister Eamon Ryan has questioned the decision- making behind the design of the country’s new €27m postcode and called on Communications Minister Alex White to explain the rationale behind it.

The Green Party leader’s call comes as documents released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal the Department of Communications went against the advice of a private consultancy company and a State-appointed postcode board when it approved the design of Eircode.

While the Department and Capita Ireland — the company behind the rollout of Eircode — has described the design of the postcode as “a world first” and “future-proof”, it has come in for criticism from a digital rights group, an association representing frontline emergency response staff, and a number of logistics and transport companies.