Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the garda free telephone service was established; the amount that has been spent on the service in each of the past five years; the number of calls that have been received countrywide in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21295/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the Confidential Line Service was established in 1992. The Superintendent, DMR Communications Centre, Harcourt Square, has responsibility for the monitoring and management of the country-wide service.

Based on an extrapolation of data over a 6 month period from August, 2008 to January, 2009, the Freefone line, 1 800 666 111, receives on average over 9 calls per day, equating to approximately 3,400 calls per annum.

The cost of the freefone number including monthly line rental amounts to €480 per annum. The call costs are not readily available and would take a disproportionate amount of Garda resources to quantify same.