Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Error.

Conor Lenihan

Ceist:

227 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will investigate the circumstances where the family of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 were informed that his pension was being terminated because he was deceased even though the elderly man was not in fact dead; the way in which the benefits of this person were cut off on the mistaken assumption that he was deceased; the reason a standard apology was given to this person in view of the fact that his benefits were not immediately restored; and if he will instruct his Department to apologise in a fulsome manner to the family of this person. [11691/00]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The error which occurred in this case arose when the pension number of the person concerned was wrongly entered in the computer system instead of the pension number of another pensioner who had died and whose claim was being stopped. This action set procedures in train which resulted in the termination of the free scheme entitlements of the person concerned and the non-renewal of his pension when his current book expired.

However, the error was identified in time to prevent the withdrawal of the person's current book. The steps necessary to reverse the termination of the free schemes were not, however, taken.

The cessation of the person's free schemes was brought to light by a complaint from the pensioner's family. The customer complaints manager subsequently wrote to the person concerned and apologised for the error. The free schemes were reinstated in time to prevent any interruption of benefit. The issue of his renewal pension book was delayed but this has now been corrected.

My Department deeply regrets any distress and inconvenience caused by these events and I have arranged that the administrative procedures be reviewed as a matter of urgency to ensure that such an error does not happen again and that a further apology issues in this case.