Ireland is to get a new postal code system, the Government’s communications minister, Eamon Ryan, has announced.

The Department of Communications is to issue a formal invitation to tender for the implementation of the new system, and it is expected that post codes will be assigned and in use in early 2011.

It is envisaged that an alphanumeric postal system (ABC 123) will be used to identify clusters of houses but the exact allocation and design will not be finalised until the tender process is complete.

Announcing the move yesterday, Minister Ryan said: “A postal code system represents an excellent investment for any modern country and is essential for the development of the digital economy.

“I look forward to working on its swift implementation over the next 15 months.”