Michael Creed
Question:130 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the benefit of free telephone rental allowance to other services for the aged and infirm offered by Telecom. [2021/94]
Written Answers. - Free Telephone Rental Allowance.
The free telephone rental allowance operated by my Department is available only to people who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments and who are either living alone or only with people who could not get help in an emergency. Such people are vulnerable in various respects and the main purpose of the scheme is to ensure that they, and particularly elderly recipients, have some way of getting help when it is needed. In addition, the allowance enables them to keep in touch with relatives and friends and to continue to be involved in the life of the community generally. This process has been greatly helped by the free telephone call unit allowance which I incorporated into the scheme last year.
Improvements and enhancements to the free telephone rental allowance are considered in the light of perceived need among the target groups and the necessary resources being available. In this context I will keep the Deputy's suggestions under review.