The grant was introduced in April 2000 for widows and widowers with dependent children, who became widowed on or after 1 December 1999. Entitlement to the grant is contingent on their being in receipt of or entitled to any of the payments which are specifically provided by my Department for widows and widowers.
In processing applications for these payments, in cases where the widow or widower has qualified children, payment of the grant is issued automatically by cheque to the survivor, once the death is notified, without the need to make a formal application for the grant.
Notwithstanding this proactive approach, in order to ensure that take-up of the grant has been maximised, my Department is at present attempting to identify any widows or widowers with qualified children who may not have received payment of the grant in this way. If any case is identified, their entitlement to the grant will be processed without delay.
Since introducing the grant in April 2000, my Department has made a total of 2,150 payments of which 862 payments were made in 2000, 1,208 payments in 2001 and 80 payments have issued to date in 2002.
Since the scheme's inception in April 2000, my Department has spared no effort in publicising its availability. It has had significant coverage in the media through press releases and information leaflets and application forms are available from my Department's network of local social welfare offices. My Department also has an Internet site on which information is readily available. It can be accessed at www.welfare.ie.
Also, social welfare information is provided on RTE's teletext information system, Aertel. The pensions services office in Sligo communicates regularly with funeral directors nationwide with the objective of creating greater awareness of all bereavement payments and from time to time provide information updates to them.
Comhairle, which is funded by my Department, also provides an extensive network of citizen information centres. They complement and enhance the information services provided at local level by my Department.
Given all of the initiatives and measures that have taken place to date, I am satisfied that my Department has made all possible efforts to ensure that people are fully informed concerning their entitlement to the widowed parent grant.