Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
458. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice the telephone numbers that the public use in relation to An Garda Síochána that are freephone; the numbers that incur a charge; for those numbers that incur a charge, how much was charged to callers in the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and who benefits from those charges, in tabular form. [29676/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for all Garda phone lines. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána operates a national telephone service which allows the public to contact Garda stations and other Garda operational and business services at local, divisional, regional and national levels. The vast majority of telephone communication numbers are provided by way of local geographical area code, which can be accessed on the Garda website at www.garda.ie/en/contact-us/
The exceptions to this are as follows:
|
Garda Contact |
Number |
Type of Service |
|
Garda Confidential Line |
1800 666 111 |
Freephone |
|
Garda National Economic Crime Bureau - Bribery & Corruption Confidential Reporting Line |
1800 406 080 |
Freephone |
|
Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Line |
1800 555 222 |
Freephone |
|
Garda Fixed Charge Penalty Notice Office |
0818 506 080 |
Local Access Non-Geographical Number |
|
Garda National Vetting Unit |
0818 488 488 |
Local Access Non-Geographical Number |
|
Traffic Watch |
0818 205 805 |
Local Access Non-Geographical Number |
|
Firearms Licensing Payments |
0818 100 500 |
Local Access Non-Geographical Number |
|
Pilot SMS Reporting - "See Something, Say Something" |
50555 / 50311 |
Free Text Number |
In addition members of the public can contact An Garda Síochána using the Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS), 112/999, this service is operated by the Department of Communications.
I am further advised that the amount charged to callers cannot be provided, as the costs incurred by a member of the public contacting An Garda Síochána using either non-geographical or local area code access telephone numbers is a private contract between them and their telephone service provider. In the case of freephone numbers the cost is incurred by An Garda Síochána.
An Garda Síochána advise that it operates no primary rate numbers from which it generates an income.
