Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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431. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are plans to increase the telephone package in Budget 2025 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36001/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a weekly payment of €2.50 for people on certain social welfare payments who are also getting both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security. Approximately 156,000 customers are in receipt of the TSA payment. The full year cost of the scheme in 2024 is estimated at €20.9 million.

All proposals, including any proposals to increase the Telephone Support Allowance could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context. In the forthcoming budget, the Government will consider how it can support people on low incomes and those on social welfare payments. The outcome of this process will be announced on Budget Day.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.