asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person (name supplied) who submitted a medical certificate in the usual way on the 30th May did not receive payment until 8th June; and in view of the fact that this person had to rely on public assistance if he will have the matter investigated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Payment.
23.
The person referred to by the Deputy in his question has been receiving disability benefit since October last. Payments have been issuing promptly on receipt of medical certificates with the exception of that mentioned in the question, when a medical certificate was handed in to the public office of the Department on Tuesday 30th May, 1972, and a cheque was issued on Wednesday 7th June, 1972, of the following week. The papers relating to the claim were misplaced in the course of other action with the result that payment on the certificate in question did not issue in the normal way after receipt.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in this case a man faced a bank holiday weekend — a special weekend as far as Dublin workers are concerned — with no money to provide for his wife and eight children and was forced to go to the home assistance officer and, as a result of his pleading, succeeded in getting a food voucher for £3? Is it any wonder that it is suggested that we regard these people as second-class citizens when such a state of affairs could exist? Surely it was not beyond the capacity of the Department of Social Welfare to ensure that the cheque would have been issued in the normal way and if any further calculations had to be made as to the amount payable, to have sent on the normal amount, the balance outstanding being paid subsequently?
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he would arrange to have printed slips sent to claimants informing them that they must put their insurance number on all these forms?
We are looking into that point. In reply to Deputy Belton, the cheque went out when it was found that the certificate was in. In checking the papers the certificate was left in the wrong file. This has been admitted. The normal cheque went out on the 7th. An inquiry was made at the public office on the 8th, as was the phone call from the Deputy. The cheque was actually in the hands of the patient that day.
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary will agree that it was long overdue?
We cannot debate this question all evening.
The cheque should have been issued four days earlier.
Question No. 24.