Postcode madness

Ireland has long been out of step with other developed countries in not having a postcode system. An Post has for a long time been saying that they don't need one. They have their own system which involves machine reading addresses and matching them with their own address database. It may well be that An post don't need postcodes, but they have many more uses beyond delivering our letters.

In 2005 the then Minister for Communications, Noel Dempsey announced that postcodes would be introduced by 2008. Although this hasn't happened yet, it seems that the new minister, Eamon Ryan is determined to press ahead with them, despite some doubts last year. While we still don't have a new introduction date, as least a system is being planned.

In the meantime, a company in Cork has decided to set up their own version, particularly to solve the difficulties experienced by delivery companies. The system is simple, clever and a recipe for confusion and mayhem.

Essentially their system is based on the standard coordinates produced by the GPS system and translated into an alphanumeric code. So their system turns the GPS coordinates for Kilkenny Tourist office (N52.6517664 W07.2508653) into an equally unreadable QNQ Z2JQ.

However, the main flaw in their system is not the unreadable nature of the code, but the means of applying codes to buildings. 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. They then need to transmit that code to a delivery company who are using GPS devices provided by GPSIreland.

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. Additionally anyone would be able to enter an address in an online database and get the correct postcode, without having to navigate a map.

The proposed unofficial system is unlikely to catch on. It requires massive publicity, and even with that will pass most people by. It's important to remember that only half of Irish households have Internet access. Of those, many just won't bother, and of those who want to get their postcode, many will find the map navigation too difficult. It seems likely that this major shortfall will mean that delivery companies will find it too hard to get this postcode information from customers and will wait for a true universal postcode to be introduced.