Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1091. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to providing correspondence from her Department in a simpler fashion, particularly for elderly people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29247/22]
View answerMy Department serves a wide and diverse group of clients including families, people in employment, unemployed people, people with illnesses and disabilities, carers and older people. It administers over 90 separate schemes and services which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. In administering these schemes, the Department generates a large volume of literature such as information leaflets, booklets, letters, and posters and online information. My Department is constantly working to improve its communications with all customers.
The Department’s website was replaced by the new central government website www.gov.ie in 2019. The aim of www.gov.ie is to allow users to be able to access information on all Government supports and services from a single place. Information for the Department’s over 90 schemes and services were developed in Plain English. Staff in the Communications Unit are fully trained in the use of Plain English and content design.
One element of the web content that is monitored is the reading age. In migrating to www.gov.ie, the reading age of the Department's services was reduced from 21 years to 15.2 years and this is an ever-evolving process. The Government is committed to making www.gov.ie accessible to all users.
Furthermore, we continually to strive to improve the accessibility of our more traditional communications with our customers. Evidence of this can be seen from the development of the Illness, Disability and Caring Guide, which I launched last December. This helpful guide contains alternative text in tables and pictures to assist persons who use screen readers.
Also, in relation to the withdrawal of Ulster Bank from the Irish market, my Department is currently writing to customers, including those in receipt of State Pensions, who use Ulster Bank accounts to receive their payments from the Department. These letters set out in clear language the steps the person should take to switch payment details so as to ensure there is no disruption to their payments.
