Written Answers Nos. 49-64
49. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011. [3773/16]
View answerThe procurement of services is essential to support the Department in providing a high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework.
The Department engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) including the delivery of reports, studies, assessments, recommendations and proposals that contribute to decision making or policy making.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables.
|
Report |
Name of Consultants |
Commissioned |
Publication Date |
Cost € |
|
External quality assessment of DSP Internal Audit under the D/PER Internal Audit standards 2012 |
EisnerAmper Ireland |
Nov-2015 |
Internal Management Report |
€5,535 |
|
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Activation Reforms |
ESRI |
Oct 2015 |
Q4 2016 |
€118,315 |
|
Evaluation of the Suitability, Effectiveness and Relevance of the JobBridge Activation Programme |
Indecon International Economic Consultants |
Sept - 2015 |
June 2016 |
€134,895 |
|
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Social Exclusion 2015 Programme: 1. Changes in social risks by life-cycle group 2. Developing a multi-dimensional quality of life indicator |
ESRI |
Q3 2015 |
Q1-Q2 2016 |
€80,000 |
|
Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Survey |
W5 Marketing Intelligence Ltd |
Aug-2015 |
Q1 2016 |
€71,463 |
|
Confidential Information Security Report |
Deloitte |
July-2015 |
Internal Management Report |
€7,749 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report |
Aidan Lloyd |
Mar-2015 |
Q1 2016 |
€1,650 |
|
Policy and practice report: Key lessons learned from the Ballymun Youth Guarantee Project |
NUI Maynooth |
Jan-2015 |
March 2015 |
€11,135* |
|
Evaluation of the Disability Activation Project |
Indecon International Economic Consultants |
Feb-2015 |
November 2015 |
€29,520 |
|
Review of the EmployAbility (Supported Employment) Service |
Indecon International Economic Consultants |
Jan-2015 |
Review complete December; Publication date to be decided |
€59,280 |
|
Confidential Forensic Services |
Rits |
Mar-2015 |
Internal Management Report |
€11,480 |
|
Windows Tablet PC Hardening Review (Limited Scope) Windows Laptop PC Hardening Review (Limited Scope) Windows Phone Device Hardening Review (Limited Scope) |
Deloitte |
Mar-2015 |
Internal Management Report |
€4,151 |
|
Project coordination of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Work Positive Framework |
Sharon Gallagher |
Mar- 2015 |
To be determined following completion of the review |
€3,000 |
|
Technical review of rent supplement under the Equal Status Acts. |
Mel Cousins & Associates |
July -2015 |
Internal Management Report |
€18,000 |
|
Microfilm Condition Report |
Martin Bradley, Archives and Records Management Consultant |
Nov -2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€1,691 |
|
Report on the effectiveness & efficiency of the guidance model used during Youth Guarantee Pilot |
NUI Maynooth |
Nov-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€14,145* |
|
Ex-ante Evaluation to support the preparation of the Operational Programme for the European Fund for the Most Deprived 2014-2020 |
Mel Cousins & Associates |
July-2014 |
Internal report required by EU Regulation (EU) No 223/2014 |
€16,000 |
|
Assessment for Application Lifecycle Management |
Microsoft Ireland |
May-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€22,586 |
|
Confidential Forensic Services |
Rits |
Apr-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,340 |
|
Confidential Forensic Services |
Rits |
Apr-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€4,201 |
|
Security Partner Services - IT Forensics |
Deloitte |
Mar-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,398 |
|
Identification & containment of malicious software |
Deloitte |
Apr-2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€15,699 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report |
Aidan Lloyd |
Mar-2014 |
Dec-2014 |
€1,650 |
|
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Social Exclusion 2014 programme: 1. Transitions into and out of household joblessness using CSO SILC data 2. Measuring Irish joblessness: The SILC and LFS data sources |
ESRI |
Q1-2014 |
1. Sept-2015 2. May-2015 |
€80,000 |
|
Evaluation Research (Back to Education Allowance) |
ESRI |
Nov-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€24,809 |
|
Social Welfare Appeals Office – Research into Revising Decisions |
Mel Cousins & Associates |
Dec -2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,400 |
|
Evaluation of the Youth Guarantee Pilot |
Franklin Research Ltd |
Oct- 2013 |
Jan 2015 |
€20,000* |
|
Report on Organisation Development |
Axiom Consultants |
Sept- 2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€122,692 |
|
Auto Enrolment & Applicability to Ireland (Pensions) |
TOR Financial Consulting Ltd. |
Mid-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€9,900 |
|
Advisory report on implementation of European Youth Guarantee in Irish circumstances |
Organisation for Economic co-operation & Development (OECD) |
Sept- 2013 |
Jan-2014 |
€50,000 |
|
A Review of In-work Supports for the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare |
Mel Cousins & Associates |
July-2013 |
TBC |
€10,000 |
|
Delivery of Administrative Profiling Models to Identify those at Risk of Labour Market Disadvantage |
ESRI |
July-2013 |
June-2014 |
€33,745 |
|
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Social Exclusion (AMPSE) 2013 programme: 1. Social Transfers & Poverty in Boom & Recession (for 2013 annual report) 2. Indicators of Economic Strain in the Great Recession (for 2013 technical paper) |
ESRI |
June-2013 |
1. Dec-2013 2. Apr-2014 |
€67,979 |
|
Diet Supplement Diet Costing’s Update |
Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute |
Apr-2013 |
Sep-2013 |
€4,000 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report |
Aidan Lloyd |
Mar-2013 |
Sep-2013 |
€1,500 |
|
Mobile Applications Opportunity Exploration |
Accenture |
Feb-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€33,388 |
|
Contracted Employment Service Model |
Centre for Economic & Social Inclusion |
Nov-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€140,989 |
|
Report on Pension Priority Order |
Mercer |
Sep-2012 |
Feb-2013 |
€18,450 |
|
Developing system architecture for the National Employment & Entitlements Service |
Compass Point |
June-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€4,600 |
|
Evaluation of JobBridge (National Internship Scheme) |
Indecon International Economic Consultants |
Apr-2012 |
Apr-2013 |
€59,555 |
|
Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund |
KPMG |
Feb-2012 |
Jun-2012 |
€153,750 |
|
FÁS IS Applications Systems Review |
Accenture |
Jan-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€44,772 |
|
Analysis & Measurement of Poverty & Deprivation 2012: 1. Work & Poverty in Ireland: An Analysis of CSO Survey on Income & Living Conditions 2004-2010 (2012 annual report) 2. Technical Paper on Poverty Indicators – [Appendix C of Report of the Review of the National Poverty Target] 3. Implications of Income Pooling & Household Decision-Making for Poverty & Deprivation (2012 technical paper) |
ESRI |
Jan-2012 |
1. Dec-2012 2. Oct-2012 3. Oct- 2013 |
€81,230 |
|
Review of Irish Pensions Policy |
OECD |
Jan-2012 |
Apr-2013 |
€130,000 |
|
Social Welfare Appeals Office – Research on Insurability Issues & Access to Legal Resources |
Mel Cousins & Associates |
2011 |
2011 |
€7,744 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum – Conference Report |
Aidan Lloyd |
Nov-2011 |
Aug-2012 |
€1,500 |
|
Report on Pension Charges in Ireland |
PWC |
Oct-2011 |
Oct-2012 |
€61,500 |
|
Development & implementation of the National Employment & Entitlements Service |
Accenture |
June-2011 |
Aug-2011 |
€186,563 |
|
Report on electronic access to GRO Records for genealogy research |
John Grenham |
Apr-2011 |
Internal Management Report |
€3,557 |
|
Confidential Information Security Reports |
Grant Thornton |
Dec- 2015 |
Internal Management Report |
Not yet fully determined |
* EU Funded Reports
Working Environment Reports
|
Report |
Name of Consultants |
Commissioned |
Publication Date |
Cost € |
|
Survey Air quality in Waterford Intreo |
Wright Environmental Services |
Dec- 2014 |
Internal Management Report |
€6,863 |
|
Survey Air quality in Nutgrove Local Office |
Wright Environmental Services |
Nov-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,900 |
|
Health & Safety Review of DSP premises, Upper Gardiner St, Dublin 1 |
CPL Training Ltd, trading as Nifast Health & Safety Training |
Apr-2013 |
Internal Management Report |
€1,100 |
|
Air Quality Investigation, Ballymun Local Office |
Wright Environmental Services |
Aug-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€3,644 |
|
Air Quality Investigation, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada |
Wright Environmental Services |
Aug-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€3,383 |
|
Risk assessments regarding reception areas [Arklow, Tallaght, & Kings Inn, Dublin Local Offices] |
Nifast |
June-2012 |
Internal Management Report |
€1,845 |
|
Investigation of odour/smells, DSP Cobh |
Employment Health Advisors Ltd |
May-2011 |
Internal Management Report |
€2,023 |
|
Investigation of odour/smells, Belmullet Local Office |
Wright Environmental Services |
Apr-2011 |
Internal Management Report |
€1,699 |
50. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of tribunals of inquiry, commissions of inquiry or investigations for which she or her Department have been responsible by name; by terms of reference; by cost including the cost to date where an inquiry has not been concluded; by date including the projected date of conclusion where an inquiry has not been concluded from 1991 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3788/16]
View answerTribunals of inquiry are established by resolution of the Houses of Oireachtas to enquire into matters of urgent public importance. Commissions of investigation can investigate matters of significant public concern and are set up by Government order. Such commissions are currently provided for by the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004.
This Department has not been responsible for any tribunals of inquiry or commissions of investigation since 1991.
51. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the expenses claimed, including the amount of mileage and the amount claimed, by her and Ministers of State of her Department, by calendar year, during the current Dáil Éireann, in tabular form. [3816/16]
View answerAll expenses claimed by Minister of State, Kevin Humphreys and I, including mileage during the current Dáil Éireann are outlined in tables A and B. I have claimed no mileage since my appointment as Tánaiste on 4 July 2014, because I have been provided with a state car and Garda Driver, the cost for which is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.
Table A
Expenses claimed by An Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton T.D .
|
Year |
Mileage |
Other expenses |
|
2011 |
€5,825.92 |
€675.75 |
|
2012 |
€7,105.89 |
€182.00 |
|
2013 |
€8,781.50 |
€236.50 |
|
January 2014 to July 2014 |
€6,359.75 |
Nil |
|
July 2014 to December 2014 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
2015 |
Nil |
Nil |
Table B
Expenses claimed by Kevin Humphreys T.D., Minister of State, Dept. for Social Protection
|
Year |
Mileage |
Other expenses |
|
September 2014 to December 2014 |
€3,552.73 |
€300 |
|
2015 |
€4,946.78 |
€258.02 |
52. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amount she spent on media clipping and media monitoring services in each calendar year from 2011 to 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3831/16]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection’s media monitoring covers the Department’s entire range of schemes and services. Following a Request for Tenders by the Department for the provision of a media monitoring service a new contract was entered into in October 2012. The enhanced media monitoring service under this new contract includes daily notices of ‘situation vacant’ advertisements in national and local newspapers, which are used by the Department’s staff in supporting jobseekers in their efforts to find work.
Employment activation is now a key strategy of the Department of Social Protection. Every effort is being made to ensure that jobseekers are equipped with the skills to get back into the workforce and are enabled to find work suitable to their skills. The officials who work in employment activation can now access all job vacancies in their geographical areas in every Regional as well as National newspaper.
The expenditure by the Department on media clipping and media monitoring services from 2011-2015 is set out in the following chart.
|
Year |
Costs (including VAT) |
|
2011 |
€22,257.95 |
|
2012 |
€25,968.15 |
|
2013 |
€55,675.95 |
|
2014 |
€44,722.80 |
|
2015 |
€48,708.00 |
53. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal against a disallowance under the jobseeker's allowance scheme submitted on 4 December 2015 by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has neither received restoration status of the appeal nor a basic social protection payment. [3862/16]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4th January 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
54. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an adult dependent allowance in respect of a child still in full-time education has been restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3863/16]
View answerThe person in question is in receipt of disability allowance (DA). An increase in his DA in respect of a child dependant over 18 years old ceased in May 2015 as the department had certification of college attendance up to that date which indicated that the course of study had completed. If the dependant is still in full-time education, the person in question should forward certification from the relevant educational establishment to that effect. Appropriate certification should be returned as soon as possible to the department so that his entitlement to an increase for a qualified child may be reviewed.
55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when child benefit will be made payable to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3865/16]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 10 November 2015. The application is currently being examined and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
56. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if payments under the jobseeker's allowance scheme or other payments have been paid up to date to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [3868/16]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance. She advised her Local Office that she had commenced casual employment in November 2015. Her payment was then suspended pending the receipt of documentation from her employer. When the documentation was provided the payment of the person concerned was reinstated and any arrears owing paid.
57. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to report on the management of the redundancy scheme fund for the period 1967 to 2015, during which time it was known as the Redundancy Fund from 1967 to 1984 and the Redundancy and Employer’s Insolvency Fund from 1984 to 1991, after which the Redundancy and Employer’s Insolvency Fund merged with other funds within the Social Insurance Fund from 1991 to date; if the fund was in surplus on 31 December 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3874/16]
View answer58. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to report on the income into the costs borne by the year-end surplus or deficit of the redundancy scheme fund by year; the cumulative reserve built up in the fund; if the cumulative reserves have been used for the purposes set out in the redundancy legislation from 1967 to date and the employer insolvency legislation from 1984 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3875/16]
View answer59. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the redundancy scheme fund has been managed at all times in a manner that is accountable, transparent and subject to independent third-party scrutiny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3876/16]
View answer60. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the operation of the redundancy scheme fund is a vital measure to provide mitigation, by way of rebates on the statutory payment made to employees for enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, as providers of employment, as revenue collectors for the Exchequer, as a vital component of the economy and as creators of wealth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3877/16]
View answer61. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her assessment of the redundancy scheme fund as a governance stabilising measure for the employment market, especially in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3878/16]
View answer62. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has acted effectively as the trustee for the stewardship of the redundancy scheme fund; if she has effectively and prudently managed the fund and its surpluses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3879/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 57 to 62, inclusive, together.
The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate workers, under the Redundancy Payments Acts, for the loss of their jobs by reason of redundancy. Compensation is based on the worker’s length of reckonable service and reckonable weekly remuneration, subject to a ceiling of €600 per week.
It is the responsibility of the employer to pay statutory redundancy to its eligible employees. Where an employer can prove to the satisfaction of the Department that it is unable to pay the statutory redundancy to its eligible employees, the Department will make lump sum payments directly to the eligible employees from the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). Amounts paid under such circumstances are sought back from employers. In addition where employers become insolvent, certain other outstanding statutory entitlements (arrears of wages, holiday pay etc.) may be paid from the SIF. The Minister for Social Protection becomes a preferential creditor in the winding-up of companies in respect of monies paid from the SIF.
Under the provisions of Section 24(4) of the Social Welfare Act 1990 all moneys standing to the credit of the Redundancy and Employers’ Insolvency Fund on 30 April 1990 were transferred to the SIF on 1 May 1990.
The SIF was established by the Social Welfare Act 1952 (as amended) and operates under the terms of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act (SWCA) 2005. Under section 9 of that Act the SIF comprises a current account which is managed and controlled by the Minister for Social Protection and an investment account which is managed and controlled by the Minister for Finance. The annual statutory accounts of the SIF are prepared in the form and manner approved by the Minister for Finance. There is a separate account prepared for the current account and the investment account. These accounts are audited by the C&AG and are laid on an annual basis before the Houses of the Oireachtas and are subject to PAC examination.
The income of the SIF derives mainly from Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. In addition to redundancy payment entitlements, social insurance benefits and occupational injury benefits are paid out of the SIF.
SWCA 2005 allows for PRSI to be paid into either the investment account or the current account of the SIF. It requires surplus funds in the current account not required for expenditure purposes to be transferred to the investment account for investment purposes. In accordance with section 9 (9) of SWCA 2005, the SIF has received a state subvention since 2010 in order to bridge the gap between its PRSI income and its social insurance related expenditure. As at the 31 December 2013 the SIF had no surplus funds on hand. The table included shows the SIF operating surplus/deficit for the period 2006-2014.
Significant and increasing amounts were paid out in redundancy rebates to employers from the SIF during the economic crisis. While the SIF is constituted primarily from employer contributions, the taxpayers’ contribution is also significant. One of the factors which influenced the Government’s decision in Budget 2013 to abolish the rebate was the increasing cost of rebates to often profitable companies. I acknowledge the contribution made by these enterprises in the creation of employment. However, the cost of making rebates is too significant to allow for its re-introduction. Therefore, I do not propose to restore the rebate for small or medium enterprises.
SIF Income and Expenditure 2006-2014
|
- |
SIF Income |
SIF Expenditure |
Operating Surplus/Deficit |
Cumulative Surplus at end of year |
Exchequer Subvention Requirement |
|
Year |
€,000 |
€,000 |
€,000 |
€,000 |
€,000 |
|
2006 |
6,974,411 |
6,325,554 |
648,857 |
3,049,141 |
|
|
2007 |
7,834,147 |
7,250,990 |
583,157 |
3,632,298 |
|
|
2008 |
8,144,410 |
8,399,739 |
(255,329) |
3,376,969 |
|
|
2009 |
7,297,601 |
9,784,225 |
(2,486,624) |
890,345 |
|
|
2010 |
6,709,681 |
9,460,835 |
(2,751,154) |
1,477* |
(1,862,286)** |
|
2011 |
7,543,883 |
9,004,245 |
(1,460,362) |
1,477 |
(1,460,362) |
|
2012 |
6,785,557 |
8,869,567 |
(2,084,010) |
1,477 |
(2,084,010) |
|
2013 |
7,317,505 |
8,631,635 |
(1,314,130) |
1,477 |
(1,314,130) |
|
2014 |
7,891,344 |
8,433,142 |
(541,798) |
1,477 |
(541,798) |
*The 2010-2014 cumulative surplus represents the book value of the Department's HQ premises vested in the Minister for Social protection on behalf of the Fund.
** In this period Vote Subvention commenced in mid-2010.
2015 figures are not yet available but provisional estimates indicate Exchequer Subvention will be in the order of €130 million.
63. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Finance the status of an application for repayment of excise duty on fuel used in motor vehicles for the transport of drivers with disabilities by a person (details supplied); if he will expedite same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3481/16]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that a repayment will issue to the person concerned for years up to 2014 in the next week. A form on which to make a claim for 2015 has been sent to the person concerned and this will be processed when received by Revenue.
64. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Finance when disabled drivers will receive their repayment for excise on fuel payments; if these payments are now overdue; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3483/16]
View answerMy Department expects to make the first tranche of payments of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Fuel Grant shortly in respect of applications made in the first three weeks of January 2016. My Department then expects to make payments every two weeks from the week beginning 1 February 2016.
Many beneficiaries of the Fuel Grant will have applied online on 1 January of this year, and the intention was to make payments from mid-January. However, some IT issues on the new payment system arose which have delayed payments. These issues are now in the process of being resolved and payments will shortly proceed to be made on a bimonthly basis.
I think it is important to provide the Deputy with some of the background to the introduction of the Fuel Grant.
From 1969 to 2014, the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme provided for the repayment of excise duty on fuel used by beneficiaries of the Scheme. Following a judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union of April 2013, the repayment of excise element of the Scheme was found to be incompatible with the Energy Tax Directive. Following negotiations with the European Commission it was agreed that the repayment of excise duty should be discontinued as of 31 December 2014.
As I stated in March 2014, to ensure that no beneficiary of the Scheme lost out as a result of the Court's ruling, I decided to introduce a new fuel grant effective from 1 January 2015. Section 81 of the Finance Act 2015 provided for the making of regulations to govern the operation of the fuel grant, which I subsequently made through the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Fuel Grant Regulations (S.I. No. 635 of 2015). The Revenue Commissioners are processing Fuel Grant applications and, as I have indicated, my Department is making the payments to beneficiaries.
The Fuel Grant is paid at the same rate as the rates for repayment of excise duty on fuel. Accordingly, I have maintained the rate for petrol at €0.59 per litre, the rate for diesel at €0.48 per litre, and the rate for liquefied petroleum gas at €0.10 per litres. This Fuel Grant maintains the previous practice of paying the sum 12 months in arrears, so that the Revenue Commissions began processing applications on behalf of my Department from 1 January 2016.
With the assistance of the Revenue Commissioners, a number of improvements have been made to the administration of the Scheme. For example, beneficiaries are now able to apply for the fuel grant online on the Revenue website through the 'myAccount' feature, and payments are made directly into beneficiaries' accounts.
