Terry Leyden
Ceist:313 Mr. Leyden asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in regard to the free telephone rental allowance application of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
It was decided on 3 June 1992 that the person concerned is entitled to free telephone rental allowance. One of the main conditions for receipt of this allowance is that a person must be living alone (save for children under 15 or with persons who are so permanently incapacitated that they cannot get help in an emergency). In this case, my Department had to verify the extent of incapacity of the person's spouse, before awarding entitlement. This information was received on 27 May.
Although the person concerned has applied to Telecom Éireann for a telephone, it is understood that this has not been installed yet. He has been asked to notify my Department of his telephone number and the date his telephone was installed as soon as he obtains a telephone service. Arrangements will be made then to credit the allowance to his telephone account from that date.