Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an emergency system will be put in place in the interest of security for elderly people who are living alone, encountering problems with their telephones and having to wait for some time before repairs are carried out for them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33275/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The telephone allowance is a component of the household benefits package which is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare payment or who satisfy a means test. It is also available to people aged under 66 who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments.

The primary objective of the telephone allowance scheme is to ensure access to help in an emergency and to provide an element of security. A secondary objective is to encourage social contact and to assist in the prevention of social isolation for those living alone. In April 2007 the telephone allowance was extended to include mobile phones. Since then people have the choice of either opting for a direct credit to a telephone company for their landline or for a cash payment in respect of their mobile phone. Getting a mobile phone may be an option for people who are experiencing disruption to their landline service. People who wish to switch their telephone allowance to a mobile phone can receive a cash payment from the Department towards the cost of the mobile service. There are currently over 15,000 people availing of the mobile phone option.

Issues regarding service provision and telephone maintenance are matters for the telephone companies.