Telephone numbers in the Republic of Ireland

Numbers on the Irish telephone numbering plan are regulated and assigned to operators by ComReg.

Overview

Telephone numbers in Ireland are part of an open numbering plan that allows variations in number length. The Irish format is similar to systems used in many parts of Europe, notably the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and France, where geographical numbers are organised using a logic of large regional prefixes, which are then further subdivided into smaller regions. It differs from UK numbering, which originated as alphanumeric codes based on town names.
Irish Mobile and non–geographic numbers are fixed length and do not support local dialling.
The trunk prefix 0 is used to access numbers outside the local area and for all mobile calls. This is followed by an area code, referred to as a National Dialling Code, the first digit of which indicates the geographical area or type of service.
Calls made from mobile phones and some VoIP systems always require the full area code and phone number.
In common with most European countries, the trunk prefix 0 must be omitted when calling Irish numbers from abroad.

General structure of Irish numbering

Irish area codes vary in length, between one and three digits, and subscribers' numbers are between five and seven digits.
As optional local dialling is facilitated, Irish geographic numbers cannot begin with 0, 1 or 999. However, mobile numbers use the full range of digits, as local dialling is not supported on mobile networks, and the area code must always be dialled.
A migration to a standard format, 0xx xxx xxxx, is in progress; however, to avoid disruption, this process is only being carried out as needed, where existing area codes and local numbering systems have reached full capacity. There is currently no plan to move to a closed numbering system.

Number formats

Irish geographic numbers vary in length from area to area, but follow standard formats within each area code.
The area code, or prefix, is normally separated by a space, or less commonly, may be displayed in parentheses. Numbers are usually grouped into easy to read clusters, separated by spaces or hyphens for ease of use.
The use of spaces is recommended by ComReg for ease of compatibility with online services, such as linking to a phone number in a mobile browser, copying and pasting into mobile diallers etc
Other characters, such as / or . are not used as separators.
Area codes / prefixes are always separated from the subscriber number. Merging or reformatting these tends to cause confusion or make numbers look unfamiliar.
While formats vary, numbers are usually printed as follows:
Geographic:

01 XXX XXXX – Dublin area
0XX XXX XXXX – All other 7-digit areas
0XX XXX XXX – 6-digit areas
0XX XXXXX – 5-digit areas
0X0X XXXXX – 5-digit areas

Non-geographic

1800 XXX XXX – Freephone/Toll Free
0818 XXX XXX – Standard Rate

Mobile

08X XXX XXXX

Mobile M2M

088 XXXXX XXXXX

Alphanumeric dialling, using letters as mnemonics for advertising etc is supported, but is rarely used.

Geographical numbering

Irish geographical numbering is structured on a regional basis and follows a logical hierarchy.
These directory areas correspond approximately to the following geographical regions:

01 – Greater Dublin Area
02 – Cork
04 – Northeast
05 – Southeast
06 – Midwest and Southwest
07 – Northwest
09 – West

The Midlands is covered by several regional codes.
Except for the 01 area, each area is further subdivided into smaller areas. Usually, the main city or town in the area is 0x1 e.g. 021, 061, 091.

Regional overview

maintains a map of area codes .

Mobile services

Mobile phone numbers start with the prefix 08x and are part of a closed numbering plan, which means that a mobile phone number must have 10 digits. Calls to landlines and other mobiles require the area code on a mobile phone.
New numbers are assigned on prefixes and ranges managed by a specific operator. However, as full mobile number portability has been in operation since 2003, it is no longer possible to reliably identify which network a particular number is on. For example, a newly assigned Three number would begin with 083, but may have been ported to another operator in the meantime.

Mobile network operators (MNOs)

NDC	Network	Notes
`083` and `086`	Three Ireland	`086` previously belonged to O₂, formerly Digifone, formerly Esat.
`085`	eir mobile	previously known as Meteor and eMobile
`087`	Vodafone Ireland	formerly Eircell

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs)

NDC	Network	Notes
`083`	BlueFace	Hosted on Three
`085`	GoMo	Hosted on eir mobile
`087`	An Post Mobile	Hosted on Vodafone
`087`	Clear Mobile	Hosted on Vodafone
`089`	48	Hosted on Three. Numbers begin with `2` and `4`
`089`	Tesco Mobile	Hosted on Three. Numbers begin with `2` and `4`
`089`	Lycamobile	Hosted on Three. Numbers begin with `9`
`089`	Sky Mobile	Hosted on Vodafone
`089`	Virgin Mobile	Hosted on Three. Numbers begin with `60` and `61`

M2M (Machine to Machine) Communication

Direct to voicemail number

Mobile phone numbers also have their own voicemail number. To access this, the number 5 should be put after the prefix. For example, the mobile number 08x xxx xxxx has the voicemail number 08x 5 xxx xxxx.
On some networks, when the direct to voicemail number is called, the voicemail greeting for that network is played, while others request a phone number followed by the voicemail greeting for that number. Users can press the hash key to gain access to the voicemail box.

Calls to Northern Ireland

Although Northern Ireland is part of the UK numbering plan, a special arrangement exists for calling Northern Irish landlines from the Republic of Ireland.
Calls to Northern Ireland can be dialled using the 048 prefix or by dialling the number in the full international format. Most Irish operators treat calls to Northern Ireland at national or even local rates. Similar charging arrangements apply when calling the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland.
For example, to reach Belfast landline 90xx xxxx, subscribers can dial either 048 90xx xxxx or 00 44 28 90xx xxxx.
Northern Ireland mobile phones use the same mobile numbering and networks as other parts of the UK – calls must be dialled using the 00 44 7xxx xxx xxx format.

International calls

In common with all EU countries, the international access code is 00.
Numbers should be dialled as follows: 00 – country code – area code – local number.
All mobile phones and some VoIP services also support the international E.164 number format, so a + may be optionally used instead of 00.

Reserved numbers

03 – reserved for future changes in the numbering plan
07 – all except 0707, 0700, 071, 074 and 076 are reserved without assigned purpose
0707 – reserved for personal numbering
0800 – reserved
Special numbers
00 – international access
020 91x xxxx – drama use
0700 – personal numbering
076 – VoIP services –
080 – mailbox for landline users
089 011 0xxx – drama use
Speed dial short numbers to contact carriers
1901 – eir
1902 – Digiweb
1903 – Tesco Mobile
1904 – BT Ireland
1907 – Vodafone Ireland
1908 – Virgin Mobile Ireland
1910 – Magnet Networks
1913 – Three Ireland
1977 – NUACOM Ireland
1923 – Lycamobile Ireland
Operator services

General operator assistance no longer exists in Ireland.

118xx – Directory enquiries
Emergency services

The emergency number for Ireland is 999. However, the 112 code also accesses the emergency operator. This code is harmonised across the EU. Either can be dialled.

Services provided

Ambulance
Garda Síochána
Fire and rescue
Irish Coast Guard
Cliff and mountain rescue
SMS emergency service

112 can also be contacted by SMS. While the service is open to all users, it is primarily aimed at the deaf community.
Pre-registration used to be required. Further information can be found at .

Premium rate numbers

Premium rate voice

Irish premium rate telephone numbers start with 15 and are read in two-digit blocks e.g. 1550 is "fifteen fifty".
The rates given below are from ComReg and are indicative only. One must check with their specific telephone service provider for exact rates.

NDC	Maximum price	Notes
`1512`	€0.50 per call	Premium rate untimed
`1513`	€0.70 per call	Premium rate untimed
`1514`	€0.90 per call	Premium rate untimed
`1515`	€1.20 per call	Premium rate untimed
`1516`	€1.80 per call	Premium rate untimed
`1517`	€2.50 per call	Premium rate untimed
`1518`	€3.50 per call	Premium rate untimed
`1520`	€0.30 per minute	Premium rate timed
`1530`	€0.50 per minute	Premium rate timed
`1540`	€0.70 per minute	Premium rate timed
`1550`	€1.20 per minute	Premium rate timed
`1560`	€1.80 per minute	Premium rate timed
`1570`	€2.50 per minute	Premium rate timed
`1580`	€2.40 per minute	Premium rate timed
`1590`	€3.50 per minute	Premium rate timed
`1598`	€3.50 per minute	Premium rate adult non–live
`1599`	€3.50 per minute	Premium rate adult live