Mr. Eugene Clonan:

We do not have many hoax calls compared to other emergency services. Hoax calls normally come through the 999 system. When we receive a call, we have three people on watch. The search and rescue, SAR, mission co-ordinator takes the call and asks the usual questions such as where is the caller. He or she will very quickly find out whether it is a hoax call. In the case of persistent hoax calls we identify the number, contact the provider of the GSM or landline service and ask it to block the number. There is a process to be gone through in that regard. If a person is responsible for hoax calls over a significant period of time, we contact the Garda at its communications centre on Harcourt Street.