asked the Taoiseach if, in view of the many hundreds of parliamentary questions for written reply each week on the Dáil Order Paper, he will arrange for each Minister to organise his Department in such a manner that Deputies will get a full reply to representations made in writing on behalf of constituents within a period of ten days; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Written Replies to Questions.
2.
(Dún Laoghaire): I appreciate the difficulties which Deputies may have experienced in this matter and I am asking the Minister for the Public Service — in the context of his overall review of Civil Service efficiency—to undertake a study of the arrangements in Departments for ensuring that representations are replied to as promptly as possible.
How long will it take to carry out this review? Is he aware that an analysis of questions tabled by Deputies for written reply in the past 12 months would clearly identify the Departments where the problems exist, and will he make special arrangements to deal with such Departments? Further, is he aware that Deputies who process 300 or 400 cases per week find it most frustrating when they do not even get acknowledgments from certain Departments? Mere acknowledgments without full replies are of no interest to constituents who are in urgent need of services, grants or other benefits? Does the Minister not agree that these matters require urgent attention?
(Dún Laoghaire): I agree that every Deputy should get proper information in reply to any question he or she may ask any Department. I can assure the Deputy that a review of the overall efficiency of dealing with this matter is in progress at the moment. If any Departments are giving the Deputy particular concern, perhaps he would notify my office and we will see to it that the matter is rectified.
In the examination by the Minister for the Public Service to which the Minister of State has referred, I ask him to include in the ambit of that examination the matter of Deputies writing to particular Departments, seeking a reply from the Secretary of the Department and sometimes getting a reply from the political head of the Department. Will the Minister of State bear in mind, and perhaps convey to the Minister for the Public Service, the fact that it is a well-known tradition in our public administration system since the foundation of the State that if any Member of this House wishes to receive a reply from the permanent head of the Department rather than from the political head of the Department he is fully entitled to do so? Will the endeavour to ensure that that tradition is maintained?
(Dún Laoghaire): I will give an assurance to the Leader of the Opposition that I will pass on that message and see to it that the matter is dealt with.
Can the Minister of State give an indication of the cost to the State of answering questions. I should like to know the cost per question.
That is a separate question.
It is a supplementary question.
Clearly it is a separate question. I am calling Question No. 3.