Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
675. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made between her Department and the Revenue Commissioners on working to improve communications between the two organisations; if she will outline the improvements in the compatibility of the IT software used by both sections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38281/13]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection has a long history of communicating and working closely with the Revenue Commissioners. The two organisations have been successfully exchanging information through the use of ICT systems for many years.
A high level group established between the Department and the Revenue Commissioners coordinates issues of mutual concern, including information sharing, between the two organisations. Further information sharing initiatives are put in place as new requirements are identified and specified.
A good example of this is the recent implementation of the Local Property Tax where a facility was made available to work with the Revenue Commissioners to deduct the tax from certain payments issuing to DSP clients, where the client choose that payment option.
Regarding the compatibility of the IT software in use in both organisations, the requirement is to ensure that information can be readily exchanged between the organisations’ ICT systems, which it can. Specific information exchanges require that the information to be exchanged is agreed and that business processes in both organisations can make effective use of the information in question.
