Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted with the opportunity to speak and to support the previous speakers. The Bill most eagerly awaited by the public after a budget is the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill because usually the devil is in the detail in terms of the cuts. The Minister said there were no cuts to the elderly but there are. The cut in the telephone allowance is a huge issue for the people who have a monitoring system at home, as Deputy Mattie McGrath said. I had one in my own house for my late mother. A telephone line is a bit of comfort for an elderly person living alone. Many elderly people will do away with their telephone line when they see the telephone allowance being withdrawn because many of them have mobile telephones. Will the Minister reconsider this?

I support Deputy O'Dea's proposal that the household benefits package will not be touched without the approval of Dáil Éireann or that no cuts can be made by the Minister.

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