Overview and history

Phone numbers in Ireland are similar in format to those in many European open numbering plans, for example the UK or Germany with only the subscriber's number being required for local dialing. However, it is also possible to dial local calls with the full area code without any difference in charge. The trunk prefix is '0' followed by an area code, the first digit of which indicates the geographical area.

This process is only being carried out as needed where existing area codes and local numbering systems have reached capacity.

Dublin numbers are currently seven digits, but may change to eight digits in the future, although breaking the city into separate area codes would match the rest of the national system.

The 08 numbering range was previously used for calls to Northern Ireland, but following the UK's renumbering of Northern Ireland in 2000, this changed, so to call a number in Belfast from the Republic:

Until the early 1990s, the 03 numbering range was originally used for calls to Great Britain, with the Irish prefix 030 replacing the UK trunk code 0 . Calls to British cities using the Director telephone system were made using shorter codes:

For a short period in the early 1990s 0300 was used for premium rate services (see below)

The prefixes 151x, 1530, 1540, 1550 (Initially 0300), 1559, 1560, 1570 and 1580 are for premium rate Services which are more expensive than other telephone calls. These numbers provide a range of services from weather forecasting to adult dating. Regtel an independent body monitors the premium rate services industry.

Freephone services use the prefix 1800, while shared cost ( Lo-Call ) numbers use the prefix 1850. 1890 (local rate) numbers are issued to non-geographic services, with 0818 being charged at national rate, or slightly higher.

One disadvantage of this arrangement is that Irish shared cost numbers are inaccessible from outside the Republic (unlike, for example, UK local and national rate numbers, which can be accessed by dialing 0044845 or 0044870), although numbers with the 0818 prefix can be dialled internationally, for example, as 00353818 from the UK. Consequently, many organisations that operate on both sides of the border advertise separate non-geographic numbers, for example, a 1800, 1850 or 0818 number for callers from the Republic, and an 0800, 0845 or 0870 number for callers from Northern Ireland.

Dial-up Internet providers are entitled, but not required, to use numbers in the 189x range. 1891 numbers cost slightly below local call rate, and are often provided for subscription dialup packages. 1892 numbers are used for full local rate dialup, and 1893 for variable-rate dialup.

A new area was introduced in 2005, using the 076 access code. This is allocated to VOIP providers, and is treated as either a national or local call by individual telecoms operators.

The 13xxx code is used for accessing third party phone service providers and some internet services. These codes - route calls to local, mobile, national or long distance numbers. However, most customers use carrier preselect, where the local telephone switch automatically routes calls over their desired service provider(s

Mobile services

Mobile phones use the prefixes 083, 085, 086, 087 and 089. 088 was previously issued to the Eircell analogue service. This has subsequently been issued to Digiweb. While mobile numbers are portable between operators, all new numbers are issued in an operators own allocation - 083 for 3, 085 for Meteor, 086 for O2, 087 for Vodafone and 089 for Tesco. The full number must be dialed even if it has the same prefix as the caller's number this is due to Eircell and Esat Digifone allocating numbers starting with 0 within their prefix range (for example 087 0xxxxxx).

Direct-to-voicemail

Every Irish mobile number has a corresponding voicemail box number. This is formed by prefixing the last 7-digits of the mobile number with the digit 5

E.g. to call the voicemail box associated with mobile number 085 XXX XXXX you would dial 085 5 XXX XXXX

Unused, Defunct or Historical

Reserved

Operator Services

(These are to be followed by a destination number

_{These are available on all eircom provided fixed lines. There is a more expansive range of services available, but these are the most commonly used.}

This is a list of telephone dialling codes for the Republic of Ireland. Fixed-line telephone users do not need to dial the dialling code when they are contacting someone else within their own area.

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Southwest Area - 06

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Northwest Area - 07

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Western Area - 09

These codes, unlike all of the above, cannot be dialled from abroad.

Mobile Codes

Southern Area - 02

East &Midlands Area - 04

Midlands Area and Southeast Area - 05

Southwest Area - 06

Northwest Area - 07

Western Area - 09