Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has described the new Eircode address locator as an expensive experiment that’s clearly not delivering for households, businesses and key state services like An Garda Síochána, the Ambulance and Fire Services.

Crowe believes that there are serious questions still remaining about the effectiveness of the new Eircode system  claiming  that very few people use or even know their own code.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Reports in the media suggest that some emergency services are describing the new Eircode system as worse than useless.

“It is still not clear what benefits if any will be achieved as a result of the implementation of Eircode.

“What seems blatantly obvious is that since its implementation it is not being  taken up even by the very groups and individuals that it was supposed to benefit.

“Many people still don’t know and certainly don’t use their new code when giving their location or address on many official documents.

“Currently it is not being used by key state services such as An Garda Síochána, the Ambulance or the Fire Fighting Services all of whom are dependent on getting access to an accurate address system

“The Department of Environment have confirmed for instance that there is no system currently in place for Eircode to be used by fire services.

“Surely questions must now be asked of Government as to why they spent approximately €38 million on a system that  not  being used by its own Departments.

“Improved data collecting and matching was expected to be the main public sector benefit for the project, but a Revenue spokesperson is quoted as saying that this had largely been achieved through other developments, including the introduction of the Local Property Tax register.

“What is becoming increasingly evident is that even though there is no public demand for the expensive Eircode system, and there never was, hard pressed Irish tax payers are being lumbered with having to pay for it regardless of their opinions on its use or its worth.”

ENDS