Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will take action to stop wastage by ensuring that telephone directories are printed in much larger print that at present to cater for half the population that current cannot read the current directories (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48647/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Regulation 4 (1) of the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and Users’ Rights) Regulations 2011 requires that “a comprehensive directory of subscribers is made available to all end-users in a form approved of by the Regulator, whether printed or electronic or both, and is updated at least once in each year”. ComReg undertook a public consultation earlier this year which concluded with the designation of Eircom as universal service provider (USP) for the provision of access to the public telephone network for a two-year period to 30 June 2014 (ComReg Document number 12/71 and ComReg Decision D07/12 refers). As designated USP Eircom must ensure that a comprehensive printed directory or directories of subscribers, is made available to all end-users and is updated at least once in each year. There is no specification in relation to the font size type or other characteristics to be used in the production of a telephone directory. However, I understand that ComReg will discuss this matter further at its Forum on Electronic Communications Services for People with Disabilities.