The telecoms regulator is supporting the retention of public payphones as the country’s largest telecom firm has signalled that it wants to remove all existing units on a gradual basis.

A national organisation against domestic violence has called for the current number of public payphones across the country to be maintained so that women at risk of abuse can use the facilities to call its helpline.

More than two thirds of public payphones could be scrapped by Eir because they are not being used enough.