The irda-utils package does not install at the moment at all (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/irda-utils/+bug/340718). There is a patch in the comments that seems to "fix" this (even if it doesn't, I don't know about these things), or at least gets the package installed again and working. So I think the interest is understandable, if people need to use their IR-ports.
The irda-utils package does not install at the moment at all (https:/ /bugs.launchpad .net/ubuntu/ +source/ irda-utils/ +bug/340718). There is a patch in the comments that seems to "fix" this (even if it doesn't, I don't know about these things), or at least gets the package installed again and working. So I think the interest is understandable, if people need to use their IR-ports.