Written answers
Thursday, 20 March 2025
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Information and Communications Technology
Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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269. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of copper communication lines within his Department currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12991/25]
Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that there are no active ISDN, PSTN or copper-based lease lines in use, or being paid for by this Department.
Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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270. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of copper communication lines currently in active operation across all Government Departments, Stage agencies and public bodies, for which Exchequer funding is paying for on a monthly basis inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12996/25]
Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no active ISDN, PSTN or copper-based lease lines in use or being paid for by my Department. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer is a Division of the Department which, inter alia, manages the Government Network which is used by over 160 Public Service Bodies and it does not have any active or paid for ISDN/ PSTN or copper-based lines.
The position in respect of the bodies under the aegis of the Department is set out below. None of the other bodies under the aegis have active ISDN, PSTN or copper-based lines in use or being paid for.
| Division name | No. of copper comm lines (DSL) | No. of ISDN lines | No. of PTSN lines | Exchequer funding (Y/N) | Monthly Costs (ex. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPW | 57 | 18 | 274 | Y | €9,976 |
| State Lab | Nil | Nil | 7 | Y | €219.60 |
| PAS | Nil | Nil | 4 | Y | €102.04 |
The vast majority of telephony services within OPW are now delivered via an Internet cloud provider and legacy copper circuits have been discontinued. Copper lines are still required to provide DSL broadband services to certain remote OPW sites where faster alternatives (e.g. fibre or mobile broadband) are not available. Other copper lines are required across OPW's 138 sites for reasons of safety and security e.g. building alarm systems, telephones in lifts etc.
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