Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will support the 11600 telephone number to protect children from predators. [12168/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The allocation of specific numbers in the 116 number range of numbers, which are reserved for services of social value, is managed in Ireland by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). In November 2007, ComReg 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. The November 2007 advertisement invited suitable applicants 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.

The revised telecoms package obliges Member States to be more proactive by promoting and encouraging the provision of "116" services and ensuring 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.

While my Department does not have a policy function in relation to the provision of services of social value, it is responsible for the transposition of the revised telecoms package and has been engaging with those Departments under which the policy function for such services falls in order to ensure that the Directives are adequately transposed and effected.

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, Equality and Defence and Department of Health and Children, which have policy functions in the area of missing children and child protection.