Two months on, Ebay doesn’t use Eircode
CLAIMS for the benefits of Eircode have been described as ‘laughable’ as many of its much-vaunted uses have yet to be implemented.
Major online retailers and many delivery and courier companies are not using the postcode, and the system is not trusted by many emergency workers urgently travelling to accident scenes.
When Eircodes were launched by operators Eircode earlier this year, the Irish Daily Mail revealed that the specially formulated codes assigned to each home in Ireland were not c o mpatible wi t h GoogleMaps or the main SatNav devices.
Now the Mail can also reveal that it is not suitable for deliveries via Ebay’s website either.
Now Fianna Fáil communications spokesman Michael Moynihan has branded the new postcodes ‘almost useless’, and likened the system to the ‘unmitigated disaster’ that is Irish Water. He said that while teething problems were to be expected, serious questions had to be asked in relation to the €27million being spent on the scheme.
Homes and businesses have been receiving their personalised Eircodes since launch day in July.
Accompanying literature boasts that ‘Eircode will bring many benefits’ and lists a number of them.
But an analysis of the scheme launched by Communications Minister Alex White highlights the failings. Eircode claims the codes ‘allow delivery and service companies to accurately identify addresses so deliveries get to the right location’.
But many of the main postal delivery companies, including DHL and FedEx, do not use the system as they do not see it as useful.
Meanwhile, Nightline, a delivery firm that backed the system, does not use it in urban areas.
Another claim was that Eircodes would ‘make it quicker and easier for medical emergency services to locate addresses’.
However, serious concerns over the accuracy of the system have been expressed. SIPTU, which represents emergency workers, urged its members not to adopt the system ‘until it has been proven fit for purpose’.
The national ambulance service is due to integrate Eircode into its dispatch service this month.
Two more benefits boasted of are that Eircode will ‘make it easier to shop online’ and that it will help to develop Irish online business.’
But Eircode has not been fully embraced by online retailers either, with the world’s largest auction site’s Irish portal, Ebay.ie, not yet enabled to accept the codes.
A spokesman for the company told the Mail: ‘We are currently updating all eBay.ie systems to facilitate the recent introduction of the new Eircode postal system.’
Another major retailer in the publishing sector told the Mail that they have no use for Eircodes and so don’t use the system either.
Fianna Fáil’s Mr Moynihan said the initial ‘teething problems’ had not been resolved. He said he believed Eircode is still a fiasco.
‘Eircode’s “benefits” are almost laughable,’ Mr Moynihan said, pointing out that a number of the advantages of the scheme are not being met.
‘This raises serious questions about the amount of public money went into this flawed code network and the decisions that were taken to sanction its national roll-out.’
A spokesman for Eircode was not available for comment last night.
‘The benefits are
laughable’