The Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) is responsible for answering all 112 and 999 calls and texts to the Emergency Services in the State. The statutory basis for the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) is set out in the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007. The Act provides for the establishment and operation of the ECAS and enables the Minister to enter into a contract with an entity to provide the service.
Following a procurement process a new ECAS contract was signed in February 2018 with BT Ireland, for the provision of the emergency call answering service for a period of seven years to November 2025. The terms of the contract permit the Minister to request the provision of continuation services for a period of up to 24 months beyond the expiry date in order to assist with the termination of the contract and the transition to a new contract for the provision of the ECAS.