Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 3

Written Answers. - Telephone Charges.

Brendan Smith

Question:

35 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Finance if he will have arrangements made to have telephone calls to all Government Departments, irrespective of their location, charged as local calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24927/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

Given increasing public demands for cheaper telephone access to Government Departments and my ongoing commitment to promoting efficiency in dealing with the public, an inter-departmental expert group dealing with telecommunications services, and chaired by my Department, is currently examining a number of options for the provision of countrywide access to Government Departments at local charges. While preliminary indications suggest that such a facility would place a significant burden on the Exchequer, I am hopeful that the group will find a basis for progress in this area.

For cost reasons, access at local call charges or at ‘freefone' rates has been made available by a number of Government Departments and Agencies on a limited basis, mainly to provide shortterm ‘help-desk' facilities on new Government schemes being introduced. The Departments of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and Social Welfare and the Revenue Commissioners have provided such facilities to the general public and current examples include an information ‘freefone' line provided by the Eastern Health Board and the Confidential Freefone and Crimeline Callsave facilities operated by the Garda Síochána. It is hoped that the co-ordinated approach afforded by the inter-departmental expert group will result in a cost-effective method of providing cheaper access for the public.