I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 to 167, inclusive, together.
My Department operates one LoCall 1890 number at present. An upgrade of the telephone technology in my Department is currently underway as part of a shared service agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is expected that the LoCall 1890 number will be changed to an 076 number when the upgrade is completed in due course.
Incoming calls to the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only agency under the aegis of my Department, are dealt with by a “hunt group”, where calls are received by a small number of administrative staff who perform the service as part of their overall duties. I am satisfied that the arrangement provides an efficient service and that the use of an integrated voice response system would not give rise to any additional savings to the considerable savings already achieved by NESDO over the past 5 years.
The nature of telephone calls to my Department are diverse and broad ranging and it is considered that the business needs are such that there is a requirement for suitable on-site switchboard operator services to appropriately manage all calls and enquiries received. This situation will be kept under review and any opportunities for savings will be explored.