My Department has mostly phased out the use of 1800, 1850 and 1890 for members of the public to contact this Department. Telephone contact is facilitated through a combination of geographic area code numbers (057, 021, 01 etc.), and the Non-Geographic Number (NGN) 0761 range. However, to avoid possible confusion or delays the 1850 “out of hours emergency contact number” continues to be provided as an option.
Where previously used 1850/1890 numbers have been replaced the caller receives a message informing them of the change of number and there is no charge to the caller for such calls.
The call tariffs applied may vary across the different service providers, depending on each subscriber’s contract and whether they are calling on a mobile or a landline.
The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as part of its remit as the statutory body responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications sector (telecommunications, radio communications, broadcasting transmission and premium rate services) and the postal sector, has undertaken a review of Non-Geographic Numbers.
In July 2018 ComReg published a “Response to Consultation and Draft Decision” document (ComReg 18/65) regarding the future use of these NGN ranges and directions on handling these numbers from a tariff perspective.
My Department will review the use of NGN’s in line with the ComReg Decision on their use when finalised.
As regards the organisations under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the agencies themselves.
