Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1969 > Committee of Public Accounts > Report - Appropriation Accounts 1967 - 1968

APPENDIX 22.

TELEPHONE REVERSE CHARGE FACILITIES

An Cléireach,

An Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí.

At the proceedings of the Committee on 20th February, I undertook to supply information in regard to reverse charge telephone calls.

At present reverse charge facilities are available only on traffic between Ireland and the U.S.A. and Mexico. The question of introducing the facility between Ireland and Canada, where a direct route has recently been provided, is under consideration. The accounting arrangements between the Department and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company are that the revenue from all calls in both directions is divided 50/50. Consequently the reverse charge facility involves no loss or gain of revenue to either side.

The existing accounting arrangements for telephone traffic between Ireland and Great Britain are that each side retains the revenue from its originating traffic. The introduction of reverse charges in this relation could involve a loss of revenue to this Administration if, as seems likely, the bulk of this traffic was outgoing from Ireland. The possibility of devising an economic method of surmounting this difficulty is under consideration.

I might add that as regards the continental services the present division of revenue from telephone calls between Ireland and continental countries is such that here again the introduction of the reverse charge facility could lead to loss of revenue to the Department and it is unlikely that it will be possible to overcome this difficulty until a full international exchange is provided here in about 3 years’ time.

(Signed) J. A. SCANNELL,

Accounting Officer,

An Roinn Poist agus Telegrafa.

25 Aibreán, 1969.