COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 14, 2024

QUESTION NO. 39

QUESTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

Can the Chief Executive provide an update on the feasibility study regarding the implementation of a freepost system for people returning official documents to South Dublin County Council, such as grant applications, housing applications, and submissions on planning applications? 

REPLY:

The following motion was agreed at a Special Council meeting in July 2021:

“To ask the Chief Executive to look into the cost implications in introducing a freepost system for people wishing to write to South Dublin County Council, to encourage greater participation in local democracy, for people returning official documents, such as grant applications & housing applications.”

The below figures present this cost estimate, updated to current costs, regarding an introduction of a FREEPOST system for people returning official documents, based on the submission of approximately 500 applications involving applications for housing, HAP, Tenant Disabled Persons Grant, and Older Persons/Disability private grant:-

Provision of 500 pre-printed envelopes                                            €   85.00

Postage for 500 envelopes                                                            €1,425.00

Estimated monthly cost                                                                €1,510.00

Estimated annual cost for postage and stationery                          €18,120.00

Cost for 1 annual Licence                                                            €     165.00

                                   TOTAL ANNUAL ESTIMATE                   €18,285.00

The Council’s current projected postage costs for 2024, without the Freepost provision, is €130,000.

Of relevance here is the national digital strategy for public service, Connecting Government 2030 which launched in 2022 and sets out the strategy for public service in Ireland to drive a step-change in how public services will be presented and used in the future with the target set for 90% of all applicable public services to be consumed online by 2030. South Dublin County Council's introduction of the Housing Online and ePlanning services are examples of progress made by this local authority in achieving this target.