Telephone allowance for married pensioners

Summary

The Deputies ask whether the free telephone rental allowance should cover pensioners living with a spouse. The Minister confirms it is limited to recipients of the living-alone allowance and says any extension would be considered in the annual budget.

Hugh Byrne Dr. Byrne Fine Gael

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will extend the free telephone rental service to husbands and wives where both are old age pensioners living on their own at home.

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Charles J. Haughey Mr. Haughey Fianna Fáil

Any question of extending the free telephone rental allowance scheme would be a matter for consideration in the context of the annual budget.

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Thomas J. Fitzpatrick Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick Fine Gael

(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it is a fact that an old age pensioner residing with his or her spouse does not qualify for the subsidised telephone rental scheme; and, if so, if he will amend the scheme immediately and apply it to married couples.

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Charles J. Haughey Mr. Haughey Fianna Fáil

The Deputy's assumption is correct; the free telephone rental allowance scheme is provided only to persons who are already in receipt of a living-alone allowance. Any question of amending this scheme would be a matter for consideration in the context of the annual budget.

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