asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that considerable confusion has arisen over who is entitled to the free telephone rental allowance; and if he will clarify the matter.

: I am not aware that confusion has arisen as to who is entitled to free telephone rental allowance. The allowance is payable to pensioners or recipients of deserted wife's benefit aged 66 or over who are receiving a "living alone" allowance from the Department and who are registered telephone subscribers. I think the position is set out clearly in the claim form and in the Department's information booklet on the social services.

: May I ask the Minister if it is a fact that unless one of these old people had already got a telephone in his house he is not eligible?

: You cannot get a telephone subsidy unless you have a telephone. That is the position, yes.

: But a person cannot now apply for a telephone, get it installed, and then be eligible?

: Yes. At the moment we do not pay the installation charge, which is about £48, but thereafter we pay the rental.

: Would the Minister be willing to consider introducing a scheme whereby the rental——

: If I had the unrestricted resources which Deputy Browne thinks I have there are many things I would do.

: Is the Minister aware that the people who need these phones most, despite the undoubted advantages of the scheme, are not benefiting because of the difficulty involved? May I ask the Minister for his sympathetic consideration to the suggestion that the initial cost should be paid as well?

: Of course. I should like to take this opportunity of suggesting that this is an area in which community effort could be of great assistance. It is an area to which I should like to direct the attention of community groups in arranging to provide installations for old people.

: Has the Minister given any consideration to the problem of an old person who requires a telephone and is prepared to pay for it, or somebody is prepared to help him pay for it? Does the old person get any kind of priority of installation?

: I do not think so. Perhaps the Deputy would address that question to my colleague, the Minister of State.

18.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare why old age pensioners who receive British retirement pensions, who are living alone and who receive Irish social welfare amenities are ineligible for free telephone rental; and if he will extend the scheme to cover such categories.

: The free telephone rental allowance scheme is confined to recipients of the living alone allowance under the Social Welfare Acts. British retirement pensioners are not eligible for the living alone allowance unless they are also in receipt of an old age contributory or non-contributory pension from my Department. It is not proposed at present to extend the free telephone rental allowance scheme to other categories of pensioners.

: Does the Minister not consider that these people deserve free telephone rentals as they do live alone?

: I am not saying they do not deserve lots of things but at the moment I am not in a position to extend this facility to them.