Vol. 431 No. 6
108 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he will ensure that, in any changes in the cost of telephone calls, the elderly and the poor will be protected so that they will not have to incur any increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Telephone call charges are standard and uniform and it is not possible for Telecom Éireann to make a distinction between one category of customer and another.
Over 100,000 telephone subscribers in the categories mentioned by the Deputy are already in receipt of substantial assistance toward their telephone costs through the provision of free telephone rental allowance under a scheme operated by the Department of Social Welfare.
The Telephone Users Advisory Group will be monitoring the effects of the tariff changes on various categories of customers and I will keep the matter under review. However, it is not possible in applying a uniform tariff to ensure that no individuals will suffer any increase but I am satisfied that the changes proposed will not adversely affect the average bills of those categories of customers.
I have made special arrangements with Telecom Éireann to protect access to services which include the Samaritans, Childline and similar serivces. Telecom Éireann is bearing costs of some £0.5 million in respect of these.
