asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make an order that in future all applicants who are eligible for the free telephone rental allowance will be exempted from the telephone rental charge in their original application to have the telephone installed free.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
616.
Persons who are approved for free telephone rental allowance have normal advance rental charges paid by my Department on their behalf when the Department of Posts and Telegraphs quotes installation terms.
Telephone subscribers who have advance rental charges in credit with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs on the date from which free telephone rental allowance applies, have the amount in credit refunded to them by my Department. All normal rental charges are, therefore, paid by my Department.
Where, however, installation charges arise these are a matter for the subscriber.