Vol. 431 No. 8
113 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has any comparative information on the levels of telephone rental charges to domestic and business consumers in Ireland, the UK and other EC countries and the US for each of the years 1990 to 1993 inclusive; and his views on the fact that, if telephone rental charges are included, Dublin local calls will be the most expensive in the world with effect from 1 September 1993.
Annual telephone rental charges — VAT exclusive — in 1990 were £133.20 in respect of residential subscribers and £144.36 in respect of business subscribers. Since 1991 the VAT exclusive charge has been reduced to £120 per annum in each case.
As the House will appreciate, I have no responsibility in relation to charges in other countries. Accordingly, in the time available I have not been in a position to provide the information requested. I will, however, have the matter investigated further and will communicate with the Deputy.
I have no information which would support the view that, if telephone rental charges are included, Dublin local calls will be the most expensive in the world with effect from 1 September, 1993. In any event it is not possible to make a comparison on the basis suggested as the cost per call would depend on many variables such as duration and frequency of calling and the size of the local call area.
