Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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1162. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the positions in her Department and the organisations under its aegis that have arrangements in place for lo-call numbers or 1800, 1850 and 1890 telephone numbers for members of the public to contact her Department or organisations under its aegis; the number of these that are completely free to call for persons who use mobile telephones and may incur major bills telephoning such organisations; if the situation will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36393/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department does not currently utilise any lo-call or freephone numbers for members of the public to contact the Department directly.

While the use of such numbers by agencies or organisations under the remit of my Department is an operational matter, I can confirm that the Oberstown Children Detention Campus and the Adoption Authority of Ireland do not use lo-call or freephone contact numbers. Tusla has confirmed that its adoption services operate a lo-call 1890 number for information and tracing services.

The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation has an 1800 free phone number in place which is free from a landline or mobile in the Republic of Ireland.

I have referred the question the Office of the Ombudsman for Children for direct reply to the Deputy.