ABOUT 16,500 social welfare pensioners, many of whom do not have a telephone, can now get £49 off the cost of installing a telephone plus free line rental under a scheme announced yesterday by the Minister for Social Welfare on his last full day in office.
It is a joint offer from Mr De Rossa's Department and Telecom Eireann.
The Minister said having a telephone greatly increased older people's sense of security and reduced the danger of attacks on them.
"The telephone represents an extremely important link for many elderly people living alone, in either the city or in isolated rural areas. For this reason, I would like to encourage our pensioners who are invited to avail of the offer to do so now," he said.
From today, pensioners may instal a phone for £50 - £49 cheaper than usual. They may then apply to the Department for the telephone rental allowance. This covers rental charges on a telephone line and a standard telephone handset, worth £22.20 off each two monthly bill. It also covers the cost of the first 20 call units in each billing period.
