asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will publish and circulate in the near future a pamphlet elucidating the changes in the payment of social welfare benefits as a result of reciprocity brought about by membership of the EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
8.
A leaflet explaining the effects of EEC regulations on the social security rights of the persons covered, namely, migrant workers and members of their families, has been available from my Department since April last when the regulations became effective.
9.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has had any complaints regarding unprecedented delays in the payment of social welfare benefits as from the date of application.
I have not had complaints of the kind mentioned by the Deputy.
Provision was made in the last budget for considerable increases in the rates of payment of existing social welfare schemes. New schemes were also introduced, the means test for non-contributory pensions was substantially eased and pensionable age was reduced to 69. These improvements represented a very heavy programme of work and were due to take effect from the beginning of July. The time between the announcement of the improvements in the budget speech and the date fixed for their implementation was much shorter than that which was available in previous years for a much smaller programme. Because of this it was anticipated that it would not be possible to bring in all payments at the operational date. Nevertheless, all increases in weekly rates of benefit and assistance were in payment by the due dates and work was at an advanced stage where other improvements were concerned. While it was not possible to have the whole programme fully implemented from the beginning of July, the effective date of implementation still remained the same and there was, therefore, no loss on this account.
If, however, the Deputy has a particular type or category of case in mind, I will be glad to look into the matter further on hearing from him.
I am surprised that the Parliamentary Secretary has not had complaints because I think there is no other Deputy in the House who has not had them. The Parliamentary Secretary will agree that it is a considerable hardship on an individual if he is unable to get his pension or other social welfare benefit shortly after he applies for it?
I am very conscious of the effects of delays on recipients of social welfare benefit but the Deputy's question was not in regard to complaints. The Deputy's question was in regard to unprecedented delays. It would be very difficult to come across anything in this particular Department by way of delay that was unprecedented under the last administration.
The Parliamentary Secretary gave a list of benefits made available in social welfare under the present Government. I am aware of this and that these payments were possible because of the money saved on agricultural subsidies arising from our entry to the EEC which the Parliamentary Secretary's party opposed.
The Deputy is making a statement.
The Parliamentary Secretary saw fit to make a political statement. I am simply asking him if he is not aware of very considerable delays in the payment of social welfare benefits. I have pointed out that if he has not, every other Member of the House has. I would ask him to ensure that claims are dealt with as expeditiously as possible.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say whether delays in the payment of social welfare benefits are due mainly to the very large number of new investigations of existing recipients which are being carried out all over the country? When this exercise is being engaged in by the Parliamentary Secretary's Department, surely there will be delays and there are delays.
In reply to the last supplementary question categorically "No", I would not agree because it is not factual. In reply to Deputy Faulkner, undoubtedly there are cases of delay but they are isolated cases. There are undoubtedly no cases of unprecedented delay.