Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the withdrawal of the telephone allowance for elderly people, which has featured in the media in recent times. This has raised its head again in light of the tragic death of an elderly gentleman in County Waterford last weekend. Elderly people, especially in rural Ireland, depend on the telephone and as a result of the withdrawal of the allowance in 2014, many were forced to take out their telephone lines. This resulted at a time in a substantial reduction in the number of the elderly applying for a panic alarm system linked to a telephone service. Unfortunately, because broadband provision is so poor in rural areas and because the mobile telephone service is also poor, it is not possible to use the panic alarm system unless there is a telephone line. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Social Protection to reintroduce this system in order that old people, particularly in rural areas, do not have to live in fear of being attacked and can maintain regular contact with loved ones and neighbours whenever they wish?