Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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232. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the qualifying criteria for the telephone allowance due to be reinstated in October 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16914/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The new weekly Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) of €2.50 will be paid from June 2018. People in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance will automatically qualify for the TSA. It is expected that approximately 124,176 customers will qualify for the scheme and the estimated full year cost is €16.14 million.

The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people access to personal alarms or phones for security. The allowance will also encourage social contact and assist in the prevention of social isolation for those living alone.

The criteria for the TSA are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. Fuel Allowance is a means tested payment and these criteria will ensure that the TSA payment goes to those most at risk of social isolation.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.