Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [14480/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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My Department uses both 1890 lo-call number and national number for members of the public.

The use of a lo-call number affords considerable savings to people who do not have access to free national call services. In accordance with best practice there is an accompanying note on the Department’s website and in press notices or other literature advising that the rates charged for the use of the 1890 number may vary between service providers particularly mobile providers.

The Department is currently considering the possibility of adding the 076 contact number capability. The key factors in this consideration are how widespread the inclusion of these numbers is in tariff bundles on offer many of which carry free national calls.

Those who have an entitlement to free national calls can of course ring the main Department number for free.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [14496/13]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [14511/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.

The telephony/switchboard service in my Department is currently under contract with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI). I understand that NCBI provides services to other public bodies in this regard.

The contract provides valuable employment for two people with a registered disability as well as an excellent training platform for relief vision-impaired telephonists who cover from time to time as part of the contractual terms. The contract, the cost of which has already been reduced by agreement with NCBI, also provides a good degree of flexibility to meet the needs of the Department.

As with other contractual arrangements the current contract will be reviewed as part of normal procurement scheduling and the issues raised by the Deputy will as a matter of course be considered in conjunction with all relevant factors such as efficiency and value for money.

As regards the Departments telephone system, innovations such as individual message box and VOIP have been introduced within the technical limits of the existing system. Technical innovations are also considered as key from the customer service viewpoint. The objective is to save time and costs for both callers and staff.

The development of phone systems in Agencies under the Department’s remit is a day to day operational matter for the agencies themselves