BT says an emergency call answer service contract, which covers a call centre in Ballyshannon, was renewed last year and runs until 2025.
BT was responding to queries from Ocean FM News following claims this morning by a Donegal election candidate that there is concern for the future of 30 jobs at the call centre.
People Before Profit candidate Cyril Brennan claims the concern about the future of the jobs is because of BT’s reported plans to offload its Irish operations.
He’s calling on the government to take action to secure the jobs in the local community.
In its response to Ocean FM News today, BT says it knows there has been speculation in The Telegraph UK about BT Group.
But BT Group said it doesn’t comment on rumour or speculation.
However, in relation to the Emergency Call Answering Service based in Donegal and Meath, It says the Emergency Call Answering Service contract was renewed last year with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment following a competitive public procurement process.
The new contract runs to 2025.
BT says it has been recruiting to expand the workforce in both the Ballyshannon and Navan centres.
It also says it has enhanced the remuneration and benefits of the employees in Ballyshannon and Navan.
These enhancements include the hourly pay of all operators increased to €12.50 per hour, night shift rate increased to €12.50 per hour + €2.00 per hour shift premium, which is a 17% premium, and an occupational pension scheme with employer contribution, life assurance and income protection cover
BT also says it provides fully funded healthcare, increased annual leave entitlement, the introduction of full maternity leave pay, paternity leave pay, adoptive leave pay, as well as a €10,000 relocation payment for any operators who had previously worked in their past employer Conduit’s centre in Dublin, and wanted to work instead in Navan or Ballyshannon
Finally, BT says it is conducting a multi-million euro investment in the service, using the latest technology to continue to provide the highest quality performance levels possible.
