Vol. 469 No. 2
127 Mr. Bree asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason his Department's Pension Services Office in County Sligo failed to notify a Deputy of the outcome of a case in spite of a commitment provided in writing on 26 April 1996 (details supplied); if he will ensure that such commitments are fulfilled with greater expedition in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17140/96]
The person to whom the question refers applied for a widow's non-contributory pension in December 1993 and was awarded a pension at the reduced rate of £47.20 from January 1994. The Deputy asked in October 1994 that a breakdown of the means assessed in the case be given to the pensioner and the information in question was given to the Deputy. In April 1996 the Deputy requested a review of the case as the pensioner's circumstances had changed. He was told that both he and the pensioner would be informed of the outcome. Following the review, the rate of pension was increased to £60.50 plus living alone allowance and free fuel allowance. However, through an over-sight, the Deputy was not informed at the time of the outcome. A reply has since been issued to him.
There is a huge ongoing volume of correspondence and contacts between public representatives and my Department and I have asked that the procedures be reviewed to avoid oversights of this kind in the future. The Department tries at all times to give an efficient service. In general, I am satisfied with the level of service provided and indeed, the attitude of public representatives, generally, to the service they get is a positive one.
