Helen Keogh
Question:22 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will provide free telephone rental to all incapacitated persons who require full-time care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5836/97]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
A free telephone rental allowance is normally available only to people who are in receipt of certain social welfare type payments such as old age and invalidity pensions, and who are either living alone or only with certain excepted people. The categories of excepted people include children aged under 18, persons who are so incapacitated that they could not get help in an emergency and recipients of the carer's allowance from my Department.
From next June, the conditions defining the categories of excepted people are being eased to include children aged under 22 years where they are in full-time education and persons providing full-time care and attention to any member of the household. In the latter case, it will not be a requirement that the carer in question is receiving a carer's allowance from my Department.
The free telephone allowance covers the cost of the normal telephone rental charges and up to 20 free call units in each two-monthly billing period.
Last July, the free schemes of telephone rental allowance, electricity allowance and colour television licence were extended to low income pensioners who did not previously qualify because they did not get a social welfare pension.
The further extension of the free telephone rental scheme to include all incapacitated persons needing full-time care, would have major cost implications which would have to be examined in a budgetary context and in the light of the resources available.