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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 5

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Dick Spring

Question:

16 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of persons in receipt of family income supplement; the way in which these compare with Revenue Commissioners figures for families within the appropriate earning limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6404/99]

Billy Timmins

Question:

43 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of families which avail of the family income supplement; if he has satisfied himself that all families which qualify are availing of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6293/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 43 together.

The number of persons in receipt of family income supplement is 13,594 as at the end of Feb ruary 1999. The Revenue Commissioners do not maintain comprehensive income distribution data by family size. This arises as the number of children which a taxpayer has is not relevant to a person's income tax liability except in cases where marginal relief applies. As a result a direct comparison between income tax data and data relating to family income supplement is not feasible.
It is difficult to ascertain with any precision the rate of take-up of FIS. Research undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute in 1997, which was based on the results of the Living in Ireland Survey 1994, suggested that fewer than one in three of potentially eligible claimants were actually in receipt of the payment. Since those with a higher entitlement are more likely to avail of the scheme, the take up in expenditure terms was estimated to be somewhat higher at between 35 per cent and 38 per cent of potential expenditure. It should be noted, however, that the number of claimants has continued to rise in the interim – from 10,671 claimants at the end of 1994 to the current figure of 13,594 which is an all time high.
My Department continues to take every opportunity to increase awareness of the scheme with a view to increasing the level of take-up. For instance, information on the scheme was a key component in the Government's information campaign launched in 1998, It Pays to Work. In addition, information on FIS is provided on child benefit payable order books and by the Revenue Commissioners when they issue tax free allowances. These measures ensure that information in relation to the scheme is available in every eligible household in the country. In addition, the scheme is extensively advertised through local and national media outlets, including newspapers, radio, and the Aertel service, as well as through poster campaigns and targeted mailshots.
In order to enhance the value of the scheme by increasing the return from work, and in accordance with a commitment given in the Partnership 2000 agreement, I gave priority attention to reforming the scheme on coming into office. This included raising the relevant income thresholds and making provision for the assessment of income for FIS purposes on a net income basis, that is net of income tax, PRSI, levies and superannuation contributions.

Willie Penrose

Question:

17 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the research, if any, done by his Department to identify possible levels of under claiming by those entitled to social welfare payments; if he has satisfied himself that there are sufficient information programmes in place to ensure that all those in need are aware of the full range of supports available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6402/99]

My Department administers a range of schemes and services which support individuals, families and communities in a wide variety of circumstances. I share the Deputy's concern about the possible underclaiming of benefits but can assure him that it is a matter of priority to ensure that people have access to information and advice, and also are assisted in every possible way to avail of appropriate benefits without undue delay where the need arises.

The provision of information is seen as a primary service and an integral part of the ongoing development of customer services under the strategic management initiative, SMI, and my Department's customer action plan, 1998-1999.

Consultation is the key to understanding the needs and expectations of customers. This consultative process includes customer surveys, customer panels, comment cards, and regular liaison with relevant organisations in the voluntary and community sector. Other proactive measures taken in the recent past included a seminar to identify the information needs of people with disabilities and discussions with the national adult literacy agency, NALA, to improve methods of communicating with people who have reading and writing difficulties.

An extensive survey conducted in 1996 confirmed that there is a reasonably clear understanding of the role of the Department and a broad knowledge of schemes covering matters such as unemployment, sickness, pensions, and supports for families, including one parent families. In general, the survey concluded that there is a high level of public satisfaction with the operation of the system but it also reinforced the view that there is a constant need to provide information in a clear, comprehensive and timely manner to ensure that people are kept informed of their entitlements.

Information on the full range of schemes and services is available at local level from the network of 57 social welfare offices and approximately 70 branch offices throughout the country.

Details of new schemes or improvements to existing programmes are widely advertised using a suitable mix of media at both national and local level. This is supported by an extensive list of information booklets and leaflets detailing the essential features of each scheme and these are widely available.

A proactive approach is taken towards informing existing social welfare beneficiaries of future entitlements, including the provision of information directly to unemployed people on possible education, training and employment options and advance notification of people as they approach the qualifying age for contributory retirement and old age pensions.

My Department also works closely with a range of organisations. These include the National Social Service Board, NSSB, which supports a network of 85 citizens information centres. Other organisations include the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, and the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, INOU, both of which receive funding towards the cost of maintaining and developing welfare rights and information services. Funds are also made available to a number of organisations towards the cost of developing innovative information projects for categories such as carer's, one parent families, pensioners, and people with disabilities.
I am satisfied with the broad thrust of my Department's information strategy but I am continuing to examine ways in which an even greater level of public knowledge and understanding of the system can be achieved through the further development of the information services, particularly at local level.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

18 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the arrangements, if any, he has made to strengthen the systems in place for the approval and issue of circulars in view of the problem over the Christmas bonus circular to health boards. [6291/99]

A large number of circulars and office notices are prepared and distributed as part of the normal work of my Department in the course of any one year. The majority of these relate to the administration of unemployment payments schemes, in respect of which a total of 86 circulars issued in 1998.

These circulars contain guidance and advice on interpretation and procedural issues involved in the implementation of new schemes and the administration of existing schemes. Circulars issue in relation to existing schemes when changes and improvements are made or when it becomes apparent that an existing scheme is not being administered correctly.

My Department has a duty of care to the users of its services to ensure that they are treated in a fair and equal manner, consistent with the relevant legislation, regardless of which office or official is dealing with their case. Circulars play a crucial role in achieving this.

This issue of a circular to health boards last November concerning additional payments at Christmas was a straightforward administrative matter.

The only debacle which occurred arose from the Deputy's mean-spirited, politically motivated and ultimately unsuccessful efforts to raise groundless fears amongst people in need so as to distract attention from the major benefits being provided in the 1999 budget.

Unfortunately, the Deputy's efforts were at the expense of old age pensioners, widows, long-term unemployed and others who were misled into believing that this was some form of cutback. I made it quite clear at the time that the circulars issued to health boards had nothing to do with any cutbacks for the simple reason that there were no cut-backs, there are no cut-backs and there will be no cutbacks in this area.
The purpose of the circulars was to ensure that all supplementary welfare allowance recipients received their full entitlements to additional payments at Christmas time in accordance with the relevant legislation, in a fair, equal and consistent manner regardless of which health board was dealing with their case. Health boards are empowered, and indeed are obliged, to make once-off payments to people who are faced with an exceptional need, including the additional costs which arise at Christmas time.
They are also obliged to assess each individual's needs on a case by case basis. However, as the Deputy knows full well, practice evolved differently in the eight health boards, giving rise to anomalies, inequitable treatment of people in similar financial circumstances and a failure to make payments in some instances to people who were entitled to additional financial assistance. The circulars issued to health boards addressed these anomalies and ensured that the people concerned received their entitlements.
From time to time, issues may arise, particularly where administrative discretion in decision making is required, which cause difficulties in that the application of standard rules may give rise to hardship for those affected. Accordingly, arrangements have been strengthened to ensure that issues which fall into this category are brought to the attention of senior management at an early stage to enable consideration to be given to the possible need for special measures to be taken in these cases.
In this way, I hope to minimise the potential misunderstandings which may arise, particularly given the size and scope of the social welfare system. I also hope that this will minimise the potential for politically inspired mischief in this area.
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