Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 1995

Vol. 455 No. 1

Written Answers. - Telephone Charges.

Rory O'Hanlon

Question:

172 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications his views on the decision of An Bord Telecom to reduce the number of locations in Northern Ireland which are eligible for local call charges from County Monaghan, in view of the improved relations between North and South since the cessation of violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11698/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

Telecom Éireann policy nationwide is that customers are entitled to call their own and contiguous charge groups at the local call rate.

Due to technical limitations in older exchanges, Monaghan customers are able to access further charge groups in Northern Ireland, which are not contiguous, at the local call rate.

The (04) telephone directory normally records what the customers are entitled to but, due to an error, the 1994 directory showed the wider area. The 1995 directory corrected the error. There has been no change in what customers can actually do at local call rates. Such change is not, however, ruled out when relevant exchanges are modernised.