I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 5 together.
Take-up rates for each social assistance scheme are not available. In relation to take-up levels generally the Economic and Social Research Institute estimated in 1989 that 3.1 per cent of households appeared to be entitled to some form of payment, but did not claim. The payments to which these people appeared to be entitled included unemployment assistance, supplementary welfare allowance and family income supplement. This finding was based on a large-scale national survey.
The free legal advice centres report on benefit take-up presented the results from a small survey, 103 households, in a specific area where 74 per cent of heads of households were already in receipt of social welfare payments. This should be borne in mind when considering how representative the results might be.
In relation to the report finding that 85 per cent out of the 103 householders showed possible non take-up of at least one benefit, the largest proportion of possible under take-up benefit cases, 42 per cent in all, were supplementary welfare allowance exceptional needs payments. These payments are made on a discretionary basis and therefore it cannot be known beforehand whether a person will qualify. In each case the community welfare officer decides whether it is reasonable in the circumstances of the particular case to make a payment.
Further funding has been made available by my Department to the Economic and Social Research Institute, through the Combat Poverty Agency, to undertake research into the question of non take up of social welfare payment. The fieldwork for this study has been carried out and the results are currently being processed. The published report is expected next summer. When I have this additional information on the reason for non take-up of benefits, I will consider further the measures which need to be taken to address the problem.
The free legal advice centres report referred to in the question gives recognition to the work of my Department in the area of attempting to encourage benefit take-up. My Department's information service aims to ensure that all citizens are aware of their social welfare entitlements and have easy access to social welfare information when they need it. Our goal is to provide relevant, timely and accurate information. We continually seek to identify new ways of getting information on our services to those who need it.
Last week I initiated the use of AERTEL as a way of informing the public of our services. The publication of social welfare services on AERTEL makes information on these matter available to some 94 per cent of households throughout the country.
Information on the services available from my Department is provided through a network of 43 information offices in all regions of the country. These offices provide a personal and confidential service to clients. An extensive selection of leaflets and fact sheets on all aspects of the services provided is published and available from my Department's local offices.
All developments and improvements in social welfare services are widely advertised using an appropriate mix of media, including newspapers, national and local radio, television, specialist magazines, billboards and posters. FREEFONE services and direct mail-shots are used where appropriate. This week, for instance, we are operating a budget FREEFONE on 1800 389 389. This will operate both on Thursday and Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to answer questions which members of the public may have on social welfare matters arising from the budget.
