Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
1727. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the progress made establishing a single national means testing body ensuring a single application process for services or entitlements across all agencies as per A Programme for a Partnership Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33840/19]
View answerThe Programme for Government commitment in this area would be a major project across a range of Government Departments and agencies that operate schemes and services on a means/income tested basis. Significant operational, legislative and technical challenges would be involved.
However, some progress has been made in simplifying the means assessment process.
For example, in the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, IT developments in recent years have allowed for the capture and storage of means data and the reuse of that data. Among the many potential benefits of this reuse are a reduced administrative burden on staff and customers through greater accuracy of information, a reduced need to repeatedly ask for the same information and the ability to make better informed decisions regarding reviews.
