Written answers
Friday, 7 September 2018
Department of Education and Skills
Departmental Communications
Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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313. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the positions in his 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 his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [36397/18]
Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I confirm that my Department does not operate either of the lo-call numbers 1850 or 1890. Selective use has been made of a Freephone telephone number for a defined period of time to provide information on specific schemes and services. The last occasion on which this number was used was 2015.
The following table details information in regard to the those aegis bodies who operate lo-call, 1800, 1850 and 1890 phone numbers.
| Name of aegis Bodies who operate Lo Call Numbers | Lo call numbers in use by body | Are Lo Call Numbers free to users including Mobile Callers | Will Body review use of Lo call Numbers in circumstances where they incur a charge for mobiles? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOLAS | 1890 number | Its one number which is used for jobseekers referred through DSP is free to all callers, including mobile phone users. | Not applicable |
| The Teaching Council | 1890 number | 1890 number is currently not free. Fees vary contingent on caller’s mobile phone package | The Teaching Council intends to review the business case for continuing with the 1890 number |
| Higher Education Authority (Including the Irish Research Centre) | Two lo-call numbers are operated, an 1890 number by the HEA and an 1800 number for Springboard | 1890 number is not free to any caller. The 1800 Springboard number is free to all callers, including mobile phone users | The HEA is currently considering replacing its legacy 1890 number with an 1800 facility |
| Caranua – Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board | Two free phone numbers are in use, with one 1800 number in operation for Ireland and one 0808 number operational for the UK | Phone numbers (1800 and 0808) are free to call from all phones, both mobile and landline. | Not applicable |
| Residential Institutions Redress Board | There are two free phone numbers in use, one 1800 number for Ireland and one 0845 number for the UK. | Phone numbers (1800 and 0845) are free for use by persons using mobile phones. | Not applicable |
| State Examinations Commission | The SEC has three 1800 numbers. | SEC’s 1800 numbers are free to all callers, including mobile phone users | Not applicable |
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