Pat Rabbitte said that he fears making a mess of the new postcode system if a proper information campaign does not explain it to the public.
The Communications Minister is expected to announce in September how the system will be rolled out.
It is expected to take between twelve and eighteen months to complete.
Minister Rabbitte has told the Dáil he will not rush it.
"There will be a necessity for an information campaign and you cannot take the support of the public on this one for granted
"I was very nervous about the switch over to digital television last year but I tell you making a hames of the national postcode would put that in the shade
"It is a complex proposal and it will have to be handled carefully."