Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 May 2026
278. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the telephone support allowance to reflect the increased reliance on mobile phones as the primary means of communication for many households, particularly among older people and people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38668/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra279. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider increasing the telephone support allowance rate of €2.50 per week in line with inflation, rising communication costs and the growing necessity of mobile phone and data services for access to healthcare, banking, transport, and Government services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38669/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra280. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine extending eligibility for the telephone support allowance in Budget 2027 beyond the current “living alone” requirement to include recipients of disability allowance and pension payments who rely on mobile phones for safety, independence, and access to essential daily supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38670/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 278 to 280, inclusive, together.
The Telephone Support Allowance is a weekly payment of €2.50 for people on certain social welfare payments who are also getting both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. The primary objective of the Telephone Support Allowance is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security.
Consideration is always given to any proposals to improve my Departments Scheme. However, any proposal to expand the scheme qualifying criteria and increase the rate payable for the Telephone Support Allowance could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context.
In Budget 2026, those in receipt of the Telephone Support Allowance directly benefitted from the €5 increase to the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance payable and also from the across-the-board increases of €10 per week to primary Social Welfare payment.
In addition, a Christmas Bonus was paid in December to long-term social welfare recipients.
I will continue, as part of the budget planning process, to consider if improvements can be made to ensure that this benefit continues to target vulnerable cohorts. Any future decisions will, of course, have to take account of the availability of financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
