Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has any proposals to put in place a hotline number for missing children which is operational in some EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22452/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The 116 number range is reserved for services of social value. The revised telecoms package transposed by my Department in July 2011 obliges Member States to promote and encourage the provision of specific numbers in the 116 number range and ensure that citizens are adequately informed of the existence and use of such services. It also requires Member States not only to reserve the 116000 number but also to make every effort that a service for reporting missing children is actually available in their jurisdictions.

The allocation of specific numbers in the 116 number range is managed in Ireland by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The role of ComReg is limited to the assignment of the number to an appropriate service provider. ComReg has alerted potential service providers, through an advertisement campaign, to the existence of the range of numbers beginning with 116, including the 116000 hotline for missing children. Suitable applicants have been invited to apply for the setting up of services of social value under the specified numbers. I am advised by ComReg that no organisation has yet applied for the missing children hotline number 116000. Once the number has been assigned, it is a matter for the service provider to provide the service. Neither ComReg nor my Department has any function in providing such services or the remit to require any organisation to provide the service.

While I have the responsibility for the transposition of the relevant EU Directives, the policy function in relation to the provision of a service for reporting missing children falls elsewhere. In an effort to make progress on the provision of this service in Ireland, my Department has had discussions with both the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, which have policy functions in the area of missing children and child protection. I have also written to both Ministers on this issue.

I understand that the Department for Children and Youth Affairs has had discussions with prospective service providers, including NGOs and hopes to be in a position to progress this matter in conjunction with Department of Justice and Equality.