Social Welfare Code

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 June 2014

Tuesday, 10 June 2014

Questions (119)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

119. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection in respect of Members' inquiry lines, when a Deputy puts a query into a social welfare section for example on carer's allowance and repeatedly checks for an update to the query with the consent of the constituent, do regulations stipulate that a decision on a case can no longer be given to the Deputy directly or to his or her staff until her Department has written to the constituent; if this is the case, when was this regulation brought into effect; and if so, the way a Deputy's office can continue to represent a constituent on their behalf in relation to social welfare queries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24124/14]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

In relation to the T.D. enquiry lines there are no regulations in place which stipulate that decisions on a case, once made, cannot be given to a Deputy directly or to his/her staff until her Department has written out to the customer themselves. When a Deputy or their staff makes an enquiry on a case they will receive the most up-to-date information on the status of the claim so that they can update the constituent directly. The Department strives at all times to ensure that all queries from Deputies, are dealt with efficiently and promptly.