Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Nov 1996

Vol. 472 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.

Liam Aylward

Ceist:

76 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have arrangements made to have social welfare payments made to all applicants on request to be paid by electronic funds transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22274/96]

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

77 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will have arrangements made to have social welfare payments made to all social welfare recipients by electronic funds transfer on request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22277/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together.

In recent years my Department has introduced a facility for the payment of a wide range of social welfare entitlements by electronic funds transfer to personal accounts at banks and other financial institutions including An Post. This facility is not available to recipients of the following social welfare schemes — old age contributory and non-contributory, survivor's-orphan's, retirement and invalidity pensions; long-term disability, death and child benefits; back-to-work and disability allowances. At present, over 102,000 customers have exercised this option. As a next step in this process, the facility is being extended early in the new year to people receiving non-contributory survivor's pensions. It is intended to extend the facility of payment by electronic funds transfer further to encompass all social welfare customers.

These developments are taking place within the context of the overall aim of ensuring that the most modern and the widest range of payment methods are available to social welfare customers. To this end, my Department is examining the new technologies and "cashless" money transmission facilities which are now coming on stream. The aim of this process is to expand further the range of electronic payment methods and facilities from which customers may choose according to their personal needs and preferences.

John Browne

Ceist:

81 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he has completed his review of the entitlement of social welfare recipients to retrospective payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22288/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

Under existing legislative provisions, payment of arrears on foot of late claims, other than in the case of child benefit, are generally limited to six months. As I have indicated in replies to earlier parliamentary questions, any relaxation in the current arrangements would have substantial cost implications and would have to be considered, therefore, in the light of other priorities.

I am concerned to ensure that social welfare beneficiaries receive their full entitlements. To that end, my Department is continuously examining options for improved targeting of information which will ensure that people are aware in time of their entitlements. However, it must be emphasised that people generally have an obligation to acquaint themselves of their entitlements. It would be unreasonable to expect the Department of Social Welfare to be responsible for people who fail for various reasons to make a claim.