Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I tabled this question in the context of the abolition of the telephone allowance. We have spoken in this House on a number of occasions about the development of a two-tier society when it comes to broadband. People in their 60s and early 70s have engaged with the digital era technologies to some extent. Those in the next oldest age group are increasingly isolated and vulnerable, however, as society continues to move towards Internet banking, online payment of bills, etc. People have been asked for generations to use cash less frequently and to stop keeping it in the house. I am talking about elderly people who have not engaged properly with technological advances. Is there a coherent plan to target those people in any of the Department's various strategies? I appreciate that the cohort of people I am talking about - elderly people, in particular - was mentioned in the strategy that was launched last July.

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