Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 9

Written Answers. - Import of Revised Telephone Charges.

Martin Cullen

Question:

64 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, he proposes to take in relation to the impact of the increased costs of telephone charges on voluntary organisations particularly those dealings with the care and support of people with particular disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

It is not possible at this stage to assess the impact of the revised telephone charges on voluntary agencies.

The Deputy will be aware of the arrangements which Telecom Éireann put in place following the announcement in the Dáil on 18th May 1993 by the Minister for Communications to allocate a special grant of £500,000 for voluntary organisations which operate helpline or emergency counselling services. Under this arrangement assistance has been provided to the following voluntary organisations:—

Childline, Samaritans, Irish Cancer Society, Rape Crisis Centres at Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Tralee, Clonmel, Kilkenny and Galway, Huntingtons Disease Association of Ireland, Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, Parkinsons's Disease Association of Ireland, Carmichael House, Irish Kidney Association, National Council for the Blind, Irish Haemophilia Society, Alzheimer's Disease Association of Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland.

My Department and the Health Boards are currently having discussions with the various voluntary agencies in relation to their budgetary requirements for 1994 and if telephone charges present as a particular problem for any agency I will be raising it with my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications.