Mary Harney
Question:17 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department has made any arrangements to seek competitive phone charges for the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24169/96]
Written Answers. - Telephone Charges.
Liz O'Donnell
Question:22 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Finance whether his Department has made any arrangements to seek competitive phone charges for the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24168/96]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 17 and 22 together.
As part of the Department of Finance's ongoing strategy to reduce overall telecommunications costs to the Exchequer, an agreement has been reached with Telecom Éireann which will result in significantly reduced phone charges not only for the Civil Service, but also the health boards and local authorities. The agreement is based on Telecom Éireann's new virtual private networking service, or VPN, under which large customers can be offered value added phone services at competitive rates. Government Departments and agencies will begin connecting to the new service in January 1997.