Written Answers - Telecommunications Services. Thursday, 9 April 2009

Dáil Eireann Debate Vol. 680 No. 2 Page of 127

  122.  Deputy Liz McManus      asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources      his views on directing State agencies and Departments to use both a lo-call number and local number for members of the public to phone in view of the fact that many people have free national calls which would be more cost efficient than calling the lo-call number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14895/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan):    I have no function in setting policy in this area across the public sector. My Department uses both a lo-call number and local number for members of the public. These numbers are published on the Department’s website. The use of a lo-call number is appropriate for persons who do not have access to free national call services and it affords considerable savings to such persons and is, accordingly, current best practice in customer relations. Persons who have an entitlement to free national calls can of course ring the main Department number for free.

The telephone contact services of the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department are a day-to-day operational issue for these agencies and I have no function in that regard.

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Last Updated: 07/10/2010 14:34:02

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