Irish postcodes – postponed again, at yet further unnecessary cost
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I was going to comment on Minister Ryans recent decision to delay the introduction of post codes to Ireland and to instead, surprise surprise, commission another report or study or something.
Basically, he’s showing signs of the “Fianna Fail Indecision” disease – if in doubt, or if you really don’t care, or if you just want to put things off, or if you can’t be arsed making a proper decision, commission a report.
But ellybabes has done this more eloquently than I could, so read her comments here.
5 Comments
We don’t need to wait for the Government – we can do it for ourselves – a new location (post) code system for Ireland will be available for test on Garmin SatNav receivers in March 2008. At the same time any individual will be able to get their location (postcode) from a free web service. (Bear in mind that we in Ireland do not need a Location (Post) Code for delivering mail – An Post says they do not need it – however, we do need a location code to help emergency services, parcel delivery services, service providers, web purchased good deliverers etc etc to find Irish our Addresses) We at GPS Ireland have developed a solution which does not need the Government and An Post to agree and no large budgets to implement – it will be available at no cost – see full details at http://www.gpsireland.ie or follow this link: http://www.gpsireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=79 and if you want to test it in March 2008 for commercial purposes contact info@gpsireland.ie or cal 021 4832990,
Rgds,
Gary Delaney
GPS Consultant, GPS Ireland Ltd.
1st March 2008
Postal Code System proposed by the Irish Government as reported in the Irish Independent in Feb 2008 is not a functional system! A post code defined as D04 123 could only accomodate a maximum of 999 properties in Dublin 4. This is not practical and is little to show for 3 years of consulting. Also as it is proposed to Post Code every property in Ireland, it will take a considerable time and expense to code each one and then relate it to a geographic location – also requiring a substantial and frequently updated database on mobile units such as SatNavs and Mobile phones with Integrated GPS. GPS Ireland has progressed with a geographically based system which in March 2008 is being tested with the help of Garmin on a Garmin Nuvi 760 SatNav. A web interface – http://WWW.IRISHPOSTCODES.IE will become available at the end of March 2008 to allow anyone get their Post Code by clicking on their property location on a web map for free. This will be a 7 character alphanumeric code which can be passed to logistics companies who will punch it into their SatNav’s and arrive at your door. Full Details at http://www.gpsireland.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=79 – Contact GPS Ireland at http://www.gpsireland.ie, info@gpsireland.ie Tel: + 353 21 4832990
Rgds Gary Delaney
This system, while laudable, is no solution to the problem. Essentially anyone who wants a code has to go online and find out their own code using a map to pinpoint their house or workplace.
However a true postcode system run by the postal authorities would translate addresses in a database into a code and then post a card or letter to every house and business informing them of their postcode. Therefore everyone has the code automatically.
For more information see http://www.onolan.com/postcodechaos.asp
Conor, your system has been discussed for more than 4 years now and still has not been produced – why? – cost, implementation time, update costs and timescales and lack of suitability for navigation (There are more commercial vehicles trying to find addresses in Ireland than Postmen!)…..
Why do you want to have something that will cost Euro 50 million to implement and have an annual update cost and may not be affordable for use on SatNav’s. With our PON Codes you can have something for free that works well (currently being tested), allows people to get their own code and postcode even non structures for events/services etc and is updated by the users themselves.It is also already being tested on Garmin SatNav’s. I have listened to traditionalist PostCode argument for 4 years now and nothing has happened, a prototye has not been tested, no effort has been made to satisfy the needs of road users and I find it hard to understand how people can still justify your approach – unless of course you are in the direct marketing industry which will support anything which not only will give postcodes but also will supply a database of addresses associated with each postcode and maybe even the names of the occupiers!!!
Keep talking and meanwhile We’ll see you there!!!!!!!!!!!………..
Gary
A Geo Post Coding System is now available for use for any location – private property, businesses, tourists services and locations, event locations – it does not have to be a property – any location anywhere in Ireland – now also being tested on Garmin Nuvi 700 series SatNav’s – all available at http://www.irishpostcodes.ie