asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be approved for a free phone as he has applied on three occasions.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
570.
To be eligible for a free telephone rental allowance a person, in receipt of a qualifying payment, must be living alone or only with children under 15 years of age or other persons who are so permanently incapacitated as to be unable to summon aid in an emergency.
The person referred to in the Deputy's question is residing with his wife and 34 year old daughter. All three members of the household are in receipt of qualifying payments. In order for one of them to qualify for this allowance, therefore, the other two must be permanently incapacitated, as required by the scheme. From the medical evidence furnished, however, this does not appear to be the case and accordingly the allowance cannot be granted.
The applicant was requested to furnish more comprehensive medical certificates in respect of himself, his wife and his daughter on 12 October 1984 but to date no reply has been received. Forms for this purpose were again issued to him on 6 November 1984. On receipt of the necessary medical evidence his application will be reviewed and he will be notified of the outcome.
571.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be issued with a children's allowance book for his daughter who is over 16 but is still going to school as he has applied twice for this already.
The person concerned submitted an application for continuation of children's allowance on 10 October 1984, in respect of his daughter who reached 16 in July 1984.
Children's allowance was awarded in respect of this child from August 1984 and the appropriate allowance book payable from that date was issued direct to the claimant's home address.