Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister was correct when he spoke earlier. The right course is to cut the austerity for very vulnerable people, like lone parents and the elderly. In that time the wealthy got more wealthy and social welfare payments were attacked. Now they have been pared to the bone. People are demanding extra money in their pockets. The Minister argues that there is a recovery going on but people who are really hurt have yet to see it. The telephone allowance was very important for the elderly, particularly as during the recession so many of their children had to leave the country to work elsewhere. The Minister knows people need landlines in order to use Skype, etc., so the abolition of the telephone allowance made it very difficult for people to keep in contact with their children and grandchildren. This measure should be looked at again so we can give something back to the elderly in this country in the next budget.

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