Information and Communications Technology Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 March 2013

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Questions (266)

Sean Fleming

Question:

266. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made within his Department on phasing out the use of locall 1890 numbers that can be extremely expensive when dialled from mobile phones and introducing 076 numbers, which are generally included in tariff bundles provided by most mobile network operators and are charged at the same rate as national calls, in view of the fact that the number of mobile phones exceed the number of landlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14491/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

My Department introduced an 076 number in March 2012 replacing one of the two 1890 Lo-Call numbers. This 076 number is published on my Department's Website and State Directory pages. Callers can use this number to contact my Department's three core buildings in Dublin. There are technical issues in phasing out the second 1890 Lo-Call number, which is used for the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division (DVCSD) in Shannon and is integrated with an interactive voice response system.  This system manages all public telephone enquiries to the office in Shannon and it is located outside the Government Networks. The 076 numbers can only be deployed in a site which has access to Government Networks. The interactive voice response system in place in the DVCSD will be reviewed and may be changed, subject to a resolution of the technical issues and satisfaction as to its cost effectiveness.