asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will approve the application for a free telephone for a person (details supplied) in Cabra, Dublin; and if he is aware that he was refused some six months ago apparently on the basis that he has not got an Irish pension although he served in the Garda Síochána for over 30 years.
Written Answers. - Telephone Rental allowance.
924.
One of the conditions of the free telephone rental allowance scheme requires that an applicant be aged 66 years or over and in receipt of an old age type pension payable under the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, an ordinary Garda widow's pension or a British or Northern Ireland Social Security retirement pension before the allowance can apply. Recipients of blind persons pension and invalidity pension from my Department or disabled persons maintenance allowance from a health board may also qualify for the allowance irrespective of age.
There is no record in my Department of receipt of an application for the allowance in the name of the person concerned. From the information supplied it appears that he may be in receipt of a Garda pension which is not one of the pensions specified and I regret therefore that the allowance cannot be applied in his case.
925.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to approve the application of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 for a free telephone rental allowance
There is no record in my Department of receipt of an application for free telephone rental allowance from the person concerned. The appropriate form has been issued to her for completion. When the claim is received a decision will be given and she will be notified of the outcome.