Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made within his Department on phasing out the use of LoCall 1890 numbers that can be extremely expensive when dialled from mobile phones and introducing 076 number, which generally included in tariff bundles provided by most mobile network operators and are charged at the same rate as national calls, in view of the fact that the number of mobile phones exceed the number of landlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14487/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am conscious of the cost of telephone calls to customers of my Department. For this reason a LoCall 1890 number is provided for each of the main contact points in the Department and a local number is also supplied in order to provide the customer with a choice of contact methods.

My Department did investigate the potential for use of the 076 number in some cases. However, the benefit of providing these numbers was unproven, particularly in view of the complexity of tariff structures from telecommunications providers, the multiple methods of contact already available to the public and the fact that, during the period under review, less than a third of the total calls to the numbers under consideration came from mobile phones. There would also be additional costs to the Department. My Department will continue to review the use of LoCall numbers on an on-going basis.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has considered the use of, or implemented, integrated voice response systems in his Department's phone systems or in the phone systems of agencies within his remit; if the staff and salary cost savings which might arise have been assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14503/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has implemented an integrated voice response system for customers contacting the Department on its advertised numbers. The majority of the Offices under the aegis of my Department have also implemented IVR systems. The use of IVR systems by the agencies under the remit of my Department is a day to day operational matter for those agencies.

While the staff and salary savings have not been formally assessed, the introduction of IVR systems has allowed local management to make more efficient use of the staff resources originally tasked with answering phone calls. It has also resulted in a more tailored service to the public.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department has given any consideration to the use of telephony switchboard services that are shared with another Govlernment Department or another public body in order to reduce costs and increase call handling capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14516/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I have no plans at present to introduce the use of telephony switchboard services that are shared with another Government Department. The appropriateness of introducing the use of shared telephony switchboard services by my Department will be kept under review.