Written Answers Nos. 537-555
537. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the payments and services for which the use of a public services card is now mandatory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8166/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSAFE 2 identity verification is currently required for:
- Access to Social Welfare Services (including Child Benefit and Treatment Benefits);
- First time adult passport applicants in the state;
- Replacement of lost, stolen or damaged passports issued prior to January 2005, where the person is resident in the State;
- Citizenship applications;
- Driver Theory Test Applicants; and
- Access to high value or personal online public services, e.g. Social Protection’s MyWelfare and Revenue’s MyAccount services via MyGovId, the identity authentication mechanism for accessing public services online.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for the SAFE programme and, in July 2017, it published the eGovernment Strategy 2017–2020 which lists a number of public services for which SAFE 2 registration will be required. These are set out in the table below with relevant timelines. Others are likely to be listed in the future. The transition plans, including communications, will be developed by the Departments/agencies concerned, working with the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
|
Department Office |
Service |
Note |
Date |
|
Dept. Education and Skills |
School Transport Appeal |
Submission of a school transport appeal will require submitter to be SAFE 2 registered; Online submission of appeal will be available via MyGovID |
Sep-17 |
|
Dept. Employment Affairs & Social Protection |
Treatment Benefit |
Eligibility checking for treatment benefits (dental/optical/aural) available via MyWelfare using MyGovID |
Nov-17 |
|
Road Safety Authority |
Drivers Licence Application |
Driver licence applications will require applicants to be SAFE 2 registered; Online renewal of drivers licences to be introduced and use MyGovID |
Mar-18 |
|
Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) |
Student Grant Application |
MyGovID will be used as the authentication mechanism to provide access to the student grant scheme for the 2018/19 academic year; Applicants will have to be SAFE 2 registered in order to make an application |
Apr-18 |
|
Dept. Education and Skills |
School Grant Appeal |
Submission of a school grant appeal will require submitter to be SAFE 2 registered; Online submission of appeal will be possible via MyGovID |
Sep-18 |
|
Health Service Executive |
Online Health Portal |
MyGovID will be used as the authentication mechanism to provide access to a new online Health portal being launch in 2018 – this portal is to provide access to a growing number of health related services online. |
Sep-18 |
|
Dept. Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
Agfood.ie |
Support for individual access to the Agfood.ie set of services via MyGovID |
Sep-18 |
|
Dept. Justice and Equality; Dept. Employment Affairs & Social Protection |
Proof of Age |
Introduce the optional use of the PSC as an Age Card for use as a Proof of Age service |
Q3-18 |
|
Dept. Foreign Affairs and Trade |
Passport Application |
All adult passport applications, new and renewals, for residents in Ireland will require applicants to be SAFE 2 registered; Online renewal of adult passports will use MyGovID |
Q4-18 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
538. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a widow's pension will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8236/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred on 19th February 2018 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
539. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 273 of 8 February 2018, the way in which a farmer's spouse is entitled to a State pension in the context of being in an informal partnership; if the direction to issue this entitlement is a result of a European Union directive; the level of engagement her Department had with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the matter; if other sectors can avail of the arrangement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8262/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2014 provisions relating the extension of self-employed social insurance to spouse/civil partner performing the same or ancillary tasks as a self-employed worker, but who is not a business partner or an employee, were implemented on foot of Directive 2010/41/EU, relating to the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity.
In line with standard protocol, this measure was circulated to all Government Departments including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The Deputy may wish to note that these provisions apply to spouse/civil partners who had previously been excluded from social insurance and apply regardless of the sector in which they operate. It therefore applies to all sectors of the economy, based on the circumstances of each individual “partnership” agreement.
541. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the number of elderly persons who relied on the assistance offered by the clothing grant and the inadequacy of the exceptional needs payment due to the fact that clothing is budgeted and therefore not an exceptional need; her plans to reinstate the clothing grant in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8287/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided over €36 million for exceptional payments in 2018.
The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
There is no specific clothing allowance payment available to pensioners. It is expected that weekly social welfare payments should cover normal clothing needs. However, in exceptional circumstances support is available for clothing under the ENP scheme.
Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an ENP should contact my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
542. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8292/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 24 January 2018.
The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
543. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress made on each of the recommendations contained in the Make Work Pay report published by her Department in 2017, in tabular form. [8313/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Make Work Pay (MWP) report was published on 6th April 2017, following the deliberations of an interdepartmental group established under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities. The interdepartmental group considered a range of approaches across relevant Departments to deliver on this commitment and made 24 recommendations under the broad headings of: reconfiguring the system of supports to ensure that work pays; promoting early intervention; communicating effectively that work pays and future proofing. The report provides time frames for the various recommendations extending up to the first quarter of 2019.
Recommendation number 24 provides that the Department of Justice and Equality undertake an annual review of the delivery of actions recommended in the MWP report and a report by my Department will be prepared in that context. In the meantime, the table below provides the status of recommendations assigned to my department particularly for those with a timeframe to end 2017. Many of the later actions are in effect in progress and on target to be delivered in the recommended timeframe.
Table: Make Work Pay recommendations assigned to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
|
Action ID |
Action |
Implementation Date |
Update/comments |
|
2b |
Dispense with the requirement that work be of a 'rehabilitative nature' for the Disability Allowance earnings disregard. |
Q4. 2017 |
Amending legislation dispensing with the requirement, for disability allowance, blind pension and rent supplement under supplementary welfare allowance, that work must be of a rehabilitative nature has been included in Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registrations Bill 2017. |
|
4 |
Allow people on a long-term disability payment who move off the payment to get a job to retain entitlement to the Free Travel Pass for a period of three years, similar to the current entitlement to retain a Medical Card. |
Q1. 2018 |
Implemented - people with a long-term disability payment who move off the payment to get a job will retain their Free Travel Pass for a period of five years (the report recommended retention for 3 years) |
|
7b |
Put in place and promote a system for fast-track reinstatement of Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension to people with disabilities who have returned to work, and have subsequently had to leave their job within one year. |
Q1. 2018 |
Implemented - a fast–track return to Disability Allowance and Illness Benefit for people where employment does not work out is in place. Invalidity Pension recipients have access to the Partial Capacity Benefit scheme. |
|
8 |
Establish a formal protocol in the Department of Social Protection/Intreo service that an enquiry from a person on a long-term disability payment about taking up or returning to work will not result in a review of their current entitlements. Communicate this message through all appropriate channels and face-to-face with disability claimants. |
Q4. 2017 |
Policy is in place. Communications being developed. |
|
9 |
Reconfigure the Disability Allowance scheme for new entrants to give effect to the principle of early intervention as follows: a. Support for 16-18 year olds with significant support needs, which is currently paid by means of Disability Allowance, to be paid via Domiciliary Care Allowance up to 18 years of age; b. Explore possibilities for the reform of the structure of the Disability Allowance for those between the ages of 18-22 to focus on participation in education, training and/or social inclusion according to individual capacity. |
Q4. 2018 |
On the publication of the MWP report, the Government gave a clear commitment to consult widely in relation to recommendations 9 and 10. The DEASP is engaging in an extensive consultation process in the first quarter of 2018 with people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, and sectoral representatives in relation to recommendations 9 and 10 of the MWP report. |
|
10 |
Apply the principle of early intervention across all illness and disability schemes, adapting existing schemes where necessary to give effect to this principle. |
Continuous |
|
|
11 |
Offer case officer support and other supports to people with disabilities through the Intreo service at the earliest possible opportunity, and work with them to develop a personal progression plan. |
Q4. 2018 |
In Progress - On Target |
|
12 |
Implement the recommendations of the Department of Social Protection's Report on the Review of the Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme which focus on capacity, early intervention and back to work planning, subject to Government approval. |
Q4. 2018 |
In Progress - On Target |
|
13 |
Develop a basic ready reckoner to enable people with disabilities to calculate the likely net monetary value of taking up or going back to work. This would cover basic tax and welfare entitlements, and indicate whether the person would be eligible on income grounds for a Medical Card. |
Q2. 2018 |
In Progress - On Target |
|
14 (a)-(g) |
Develop a proactive and ongoing strategy to communicate clear, simple and accurate information in a user-friendly way on what benefits people with disabilities will keep if they are in employment. |
Q. 2019 |
In Progress - On Target |
|
15 |
Extend inter-agency protocols, where relevant, to include referral of people with disabilities to authoritative sources of information and guidance on the financial and other aspects of employment. |
Q1. 2019 |
In Progress - On Target |
|
16 |
Develop and strengthen the capacity of the Department of Social Protection Intreo Service to support people with disabilities to get and maintain employment by: Designating Intreo as the first point of contact for people with disabilities interested in work; developing the Intreo Service as a welcoming and supportive environment for people with disabilities, with a personalised approach to each case; facilitating the attendance of a family member, friend or advocate to support the person with a disability throughout the engagement, if the person desires; training Intreo Service Case officers and other front-line staff to work with people with disabilities, to identify their needs, and support them to fulfil their employment ambitions, in accordance with their capacity; designating named case officers at Intreo Centres to support people with disabilities interested in taking up work; provision by the Intreo Service of a continuum of support to the person with disability as they transition into work. |
Q1. 2019 |
In Progress - On Target |
|
17 |
Develop a suite of protocols with the range of State-funded Disability Service Providers to work in partnership with Intreo offices to advance common objectives, and support people with disabilities to fulfil their employment ambitions, in accordance with their capacity. |
Q1. 2019 |
In Progress - On Target |
|
18 |
At local level, review and revise existing protocols and service level agreements with State service providers (including HSE offices, Education and Training Boards, EmployAbility, Local Enterprise Offices, Local Employment Services, Job Clubs, Community Resource Centres) to reflect the opportunities now available at Intreo Offices. |
Q1. 2019 |
In Progress - On Target |
|
19 |
Provide clear information on the procedures for fast-track return to benefits, any paperwork the individual must supply, and the target timescale for restoration of a person's benefits. Provide clear information on any interim arrangements (e.g. payment of Supplementary Welfare Allowance while awaiting award of the substantive payment). Communicate this information: on the Department of Social Protection and HSE websites; through Intreo case officers working with individuals; through direct communication with individuals exiting a welfare payment to take up work; through disability organisations; and through Citizens Information Centres. |
Q2. 2017 |
Communications being further developed. |
|
20 |
Formally proof all new schemes or reforms at design stage to minimise complexity, and ensure that a person with a disability who is interested in work is supported and is not financially disadvantaged by taking up employment. |
Q2. 2017 |
Ongoing |
|
21 |
Review the Disability Allowance earnings disregard at regular intervals taking into account developments in the wider economy. |
Q2. 2017 |
Ongoing |
|
22 |
Every five years, conduct an evaluation of policies in relation to income and other supports for people with disabilities (including earnings disregards, Medical Cards) from an employment perspective. |
Q2. 2017 |
Ongoing |
|
23 |
Continue to strengthen data collection efforts and the research and evaluation capacity to inform policymaking in this area. |
Q2. 2017 |
Ongoing |
544. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8331/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been awarded state pension (contributory) with effect from the 14 of May 2014.
The decision has been made based on the current available social insurance record of the person concerned, comprising 1,404 reckonable paid and credited contributions. This results in a reduced rate pension entitlement based on a yearly average of 31 contributions covering the period January 1969 to the end of December 2013.
The person concerned has been notified in writing of this decision and due arrears will issue shortly.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
545. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the basis on which the surviving partner or spouse of a person divorced outside this jurisdiction cannot qualify for a contributory widow's or widower's pension in view of the fact that they would have been compliant with Irish law when they remarried here; the number of persons refused a widow's or widower's pension on the basis of one of the partners having been divorced outside the country in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8361/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra546. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons who divorced outside of this jurisdiction have forfeited their rights to a widow's, widower's or survivor's pensions, notwithstanding the fact that they would have had to have been compliant with the law to remarry here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8362/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 546 together.
To qualify for a widow(er)’s or surviving civil partner’s (contributory) pension, the surviving spouse must be deemed, under Irish law, to be the legal widow(er) of the deceased.
The legislative provisions pertaining to the recognition of divorces outside the State are set out in Section 5 of the Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act, 1986.
In order for a foreign divorce to be recognised in this State, one of the parties to the divorce must be domiciled in the country granting the divorce when proceedings were initiated. One of the criteria in establishing a domicile choice would be that the person intended to reside permanently, or at least indefinitely, in the jurisdiction of the state granting the divorce. Responsibility for this legislation lies with the Minister for Justice and Equality.
Statistics are not recorded on the number of applicants refused widow's or widower's pensions on the basis of unrecognised divorces.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
547. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a widower's pension will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8363/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for a widow(er)’s or surviving civil partner’s (contributory) pension, the surviving spouse must be deemed, under Irish State Law, to be the legal widower of the deceased.
The person concerned was previously married in Ireland and divorced in Northern Ireland. His subsequent marriage to his late wife took place in Northern Ireland. The legislative provisions pertaining to the recognition of divorces outside the State are set out in Section 5 of the Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act, 1986. In order for a foreign divorce to be recognised in this State, one of the parties to the divorce must be domiciled in the country granting the divorce when proceedings were initiated. Based on the evidence available to the Department, it appears both parties to the divorce were domiciled in Ireland at that time.
Therefore the divorce and the subsequent marriage that took place in Northern Ireland are not recognised under Irish State Law. Consequently, there is no entitlement to widower’s contributory pension. A deciding officer notified the person concerned of this decision, in writing, on the 28th of November 2017.
The person concerned has been afforded the opportunity to appeal the decision to the independent Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, D’Olier St., Dublin 2.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
548. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a widow's pension will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8364/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for a widow(er)’s or surviving civil partner’s (contributory) pension, the surviving spouse must be deemed, under Irish State Law, to be the legal widow of the deceased.
The late husband of the person concerned was previously married in Ireland and subsequently divorced in the United Kingdom. The legislative provisions pertaining to the recognition of divorces outside the State are set out in Section 5 of the Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act, 1986. In order for a foreign divorce to be recognised in this State, one of the parties to the divorce must be domiciled in the country granting the divorce when proceedings were initiated.
Based on the evidence available to the Deciding Officer, the deceased and his former spouse were domiciled in Ireland at the time their divorce proceedings were initiated in the United Kingdom. Therefore, the divorce that took place in the United Kingdom, and the subsequent marriage, are not recognised in this State. Consequently, there is no entitlement to widow’s contributory pension. The person concerned was informed of this decision, in writing, on the 10th of November 2017.
The person concerned has now appealed this decision to the independent Chief Appeals Office. The Chief Appeals Office will contact the person concerned directly regarding the outcome of their appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
549. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a carer's allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8365/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeals of the person concerned took place on 7th December 2017. At the oral hearing it was agreed that the person concerned would send in further documentation in support of the appeals and this has been reiterated in subsequent communications between the Appeals Officer and the person concerned. To date, the Appeals Officer has held off on making his decision on the appeals in order to provide the person concerned with the best opportunity to submit additional documentation in support of her case. However, in light of the time that has passed since the appeal hearing, he will be obliged to make his decision in the very near future with or without the promised additional documentation.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
550. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an exceptional needs payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8366/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned submitted an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance to assist with funeral expenses on the 13th of February 2018.
A decision to award the claim was made by the designated person on the 13th of February 2018 and a payment was issued to the person concerned in the amount of €2,500 that day.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
551. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in the transfer of departmental papers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8415/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 31 July 2017.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that the applicant’s means are less than the statutory limit which in this case is €257.60 weekly. The application was disallowed as her means were determined to exceed the statutory limit.
The person concerned was notified on 8 November 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and her right of review and appeal.
My department were notified on 4 December 2017 that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). At this stage a different deciding officer (DO) reviewed in full the original decision which was under appeal. Having completed this review, the decision remained unchanged. A submission in support of the decision has been forwarded along with the file on 15 February to the SWAO for determination.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
554. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons within each of the six payment bands who are in receipt of the State pension (contributory). [8462/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe six rates bands came into existence at the start of September 2012 for persons with a date of birth after 31st of August 1946. At the end of January 2018 there were 395,091 people in receipt of state pension (contributory) in total and of these 153,355 were in receipt of payment based on the six rate bands from September 2012. The number of claimants in each of these rate bands is:
|
Yearly average rate band |
No. of claimants as of 31 Jan 2018 |
|
48+ |
84,719 |
|
40 - 47 |
17,920 |
|
30 - 39 |
20,639 |
|
20 - 29 |
20,703 |
|
15 - 19 |
6,711 |
|
10 - 14 |
2,663 |
|
Total |
153,355 |
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
555. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she plans to launch the public consultation on pension reform further to her announcement in November 2017; the details and timeframe of the public consultation process; the steps she will take to amend section 48 of the Pensions Act 1990 and the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 that will provide pension members with more choice, such as approved retirement funds when scheme trustees decide to wind up pension schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8463/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPensions reform is a Government priority and I can confirm an intention to publish and commence the implementation of a pensions reform plan in the coming weeks. This reform plan will detail measures to reform both our State and supplementary pension systems.
Perhaps the two most fundamental reform measures contained within this plan will relate to the introduction of the ‘Total Contributions Approach’ for the State pension contributory from 2020 and the development of a new automatic enrolment retirement savings system for employees without supplementary pensions coverage.
It is proposed that the ‘Total Contributions Approach’ (TCA) will replace the current ‘yearly average’ system from 2020. This will make the level of pension more directly proportionate to the number of social insurance contributions made by a person over his or her working life, with significant pension credits granted to people who have taken time out of the workplace to perform caring duties. The TCA will eliminate the anomalies inherent in the current averaging system whereby a person can qualify for a full pension based on a small number of years of payments (currently as little as 10 years' contributions) provided they have no gaps in their record, whereas a person with more than 10 years contributions but with a significant gap in their record might be paid a reduced rate.
Automatic enrolment would see a transition from the current and purely voluntary supplementary pension system to one which will, subject to certain parameters, automatically enrol employees into a quality assured retirement savings system. It is planned that this reform, where the saver will maintain the freedom of choice to opt out, will include employer and State financial incentives to encourage long term saving and asset accumulation amongst those who may otherwise suffer a reduction in living standards at retirement. It will increase the wellbeing, financial security, and independence of future retirees.
It is intended that following publication of the reform plan, two separate public consultation processes will be launched on the ‘Total Contributions Approach’ and automatic enrolment. The purpose of both of these consultations will be to inform the design of both systems. The details and timeframe of them will be confirmed subsequent to the publication of the reform plan although I can say it is my intention to begin them by Q2 of this year.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy’s question, the wind-up options in section 48 of the Pensions Act 1990, as amended, are contingent on the requirement that the scheme’s policies or contracts are approved by the Revenue Commissioners under the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended. The Pensions Act sets out the circumstances in which retirement benefit schemes are approved by the Revenue Commissioners for tax purposes. In other words, transfers from the scheme being wound up must be made into schemes or products approved by the Revenue Commissioners and which, therefore, comply with Revenue rules. Section 772 of the Taxes Consolidation Act allows for flexible options on retirement, i.e., the Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) option. The purchase of an ARF is not available to members of defined benefit schemes, subject to certain exceptions. Legislation and policy on taxes and access to ARFs are a matter for the Department of Finance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
