Minister to put ‘999’ contract out to tender

THE contract to operate the 999 emergency service will be put out to tender in the near future.

Communications Minister Noel Dempsey last night confirmed there would be a public procurement process to decide who takes over from Eircom as operators of the service.

Eircom will be able to bid for the contract should it wish to do so. But, given its unhappiness at the cost of running the service in recent years, a tender from the company is not certain.