My existing telephone number seems to be working fine - why do I need to change?

Because numbers are getting scarce in these areas, it is necessary to use longer 7-digit numbers and to merge certain areas. This will provide enough numbers for the foreseeable future. The old number and STD (if relevant) will still operate for a period after the new number comes into operation in order to give you time to adapt; please use this time to change your letterheads and other contact information and informing your friends and contacts of the change. Waiting until the last moment may only result in inconvenience and in difficulties for your friends and acquaintances.  

My area is not listed on your web site. Will I be affected by these changes?

As well as anyone resident in these areas, anyone who is making telephone calls to the affected areas will need to change to the new numbers and (in some cases) the new STD codes of their contacts there. This would be a good time to amend the numbers stored in telephone memory or in auto diallers and in your address book.

I live in an area with a 5-digit subscriber number which is not listed on your web site. Will you be changing my number?

Only the listed areas are being changed at present. Your area has sufficient numbers for now and we don't want to impose the cost and inconvenience of a number change on you just to improve the numbering system. However, if a sudden unexpected rise in demand for numbers occurs (e.g. because of new communications capabilities or technologies) then we will look again at that stage. In any case, we don't envisage such a need at present.

When will the new 7-digit numbers come into operation?

The commencement date for the new 7-digit numbers is December 5th 2005. From this date both old and new numbers will work side by side for approximately 6 months.

When will the old 5-digit numbers be withdrawn from operation?

The old 5-digit numbers will cease on the following dates or very shortly afterwards:

What will happen when the old numbers are withdrawn?

Anyone attempting to dial the old number during a period of at least 12 months after the number is withdrawn will hear a recorded announcement advising them of the change and what to do to contact you. After that period, your contacts will need to check in the Directories or with a Directory Enquiry service to get your phone number.

What will happen to my old number?

Your old number will never be re-used in its present format. However, at some stage in the future, it may form the first five digits of a block of new 7-digit numbers.

When will the telephone directories show my new 7-digit number?

Since the telephone directories for any given year are distributed in the previous autumn (e.g. the directories for 2006 will be distributed in the Autumn of 2005), the new 7-digit numbers will appear in the 2007 telephone directories. These will be distributed to homes in Autumn of 2006.

Directory enquiry services, however, will be aware of these number changes. Anyone who contacts any of the directory enquiry services from December 5th 2005 will be informed of the new 7-digit number and not the old 5-digit number.

I have Caller Display on/with my phone and/or I use CLI for automated services. Will this be affected by the changes?

Your Caller Display (also known as Caller Line Identification or CLI) service will be unaffected for calls from unchanged areas, regardless of where you live. Where callers ring you from areas undergoing changes then your Display will change from showing the old numbers to the new numbers on or immediately before the cessation dates for the old numbers.

This also means that users of automated systems relying on CLI or who screen incoming CLI (e.g. security organisations) should be prepared for the changeover to occur at this time.

We are an alarm company (or PBX operator, or similar) that makes automated calls to numbers in the changed areas. What should we do?  

You should change over your equipment to dial to the new longer 7-digit numbers (and new area codes, where relevant) at any time during the period of parallel running.

Will my telephone bills be affected by these number changes? 

There should be no circumstances where telephone bills can increase as a direct result of the changes. Indeed some consumers will enjoy a reduction in price (from trunk rate to local rate) when they call certain areas.

All queries relating to bills and charging should be directed to your service provider.

As well as having an ordinary telephone number in one of the change areas, I also have a FreePhone number that uses the same handset. Will my FreePhone number need to change?

FreePhone and other non-geographic numbers (Shared cost numbers, Premium Rate Numbers etc.) are not affected by these changes. Your network operator will automatically make the necessary adjustments to keep these numbers in operation.

I am concerned about the effect on my contacts in other countries. What measures are being taken to avoid problems in that respect? 

ComReg is advising the respective international bodies about these Irish number changes so that they can adjust their systems to ensure calls to the new longer numbers work as effectively as the old ones. However, notification to your own contacts abroad of changes to your number is your responsibility and we strongly advise you to do this as early as possible. Nevertheless, somebody calling an old number for some months after it is switched off will be directed to a recorded announcement that informs them of the change and what to do to contact you.