Vol. 489 No. 6
546 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his Department has a free telephone number, 1890, for the convenience of the public; and, if so, the action, if any, taken to bring this service to public notice. [8728/98]
My Department provides a freephone service to the public, using the number 1800-400-400, from time to time for specific purposes. A recent example was the budget information freephone which was available throughout December. These freephone services are advertised in the national media at the relevant times.
The Government has decided to introduce local call telephone access to all Government Departments and offices. This facility will be available to the public via Telecom Éireann's Lo-call 1-890 service. My Department has secured a Lo-call number (1890-400-400) from Telecom Éireann which will, in time, serve as the Department's single national telephone number.
The development of the Lo-call service provides opportunities for my Department to examine how it delivers its business and how to reorganise around the customers' needs with the overall aim of providing an integrated service of the highest quality. My Department will therefore be taking a phased and structured approach in introducing the Lo-call facility.
