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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Nov 1985

Vol. 361 No. 13

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Entitlements.

12.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department have taken any steps to establish the level of non-take up by persons of social welfare benefits to which they are entitled; if he has any plans to increase public awareness of people's entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

My Department do not have the resources to undertake formal measurement of the level of non-take up by persons of social welfare benefits to which they are entitled. This would require very complex and expensive household surveys. There is little evidence of lack of take-up of departmental schemes.

Considerable efforts are made by the Department to increase public awareness of entitlements by providing information on schemes and services. Those efforts fall into three categories:

The Department now have 31 public offices and information centres. The information service in over half of these offices has been improved by the installation of computer visual display terminals.

The Department produce a wide range of publications about their services, which are distributed through their information centres, voluntary information centres, at seminars and on request to various organisations and individuals.

General information booklets and booklets setting out the rates of payment of various schemes are widely distributed in addition to a range of individual leaflets on schemes. New leaflets have been added recently, specifically designed to improve awareness of entitlements, for example Social Welfare and School-Leavers and a Checklist for Pensioners. I have arranged for a selection of these publications to be sent to the Deputy for information.

The Department advertise extensively when new schemes are introduced, or existing ones amended, and also when there is a need to make the public aware of administrative changes.

Each of these three methods is being improved and developed as resources allow. In addition, officers of my Department take part in seminars and educational and training courses around the country.

Proinsias de Rossa

Would the Minister's Department have even an estimate of the sum which has not been taken up by people who could be eligible? I assume that in preparing Estimates the Department have a fair idea of what should be taken up, given the level of unemployment, disability and so forth. Could he indicate what estimate there would be of lack of take-up? Would he not consider also information centres or officers being made available in labour exchanges where many social welfare recipients have to attend? This might improve the take-up of many benefits.

In addition to their general information sector, the Department have a network of information outlets throughout the country. In Dublin there are three public offices at Oisin House, Pearse Street; Phibsboro Tower, Phibsboro and Gandon House, Amiens Street. There are also information offices in Crumlin and Ballyfermot. Outside Dublin there are information officers stationed in 26 employment exchanges in the major centres of population. About 82 per cent of persons aged over 66 years are in receipt of a pension or other long term social welfare payment. The 18 per cent remaining would be public service pensioners. About 63 per cent of widows are in receipt of a widow's pension and there is about 100 per cent take-up on the children's allowances. In the case of unemployment there is no reason to believe that the take-up is less than 100 per cent. It is more difficult to measure disability benefit take-up. That is a general broad indication that I have given the Deputy.

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