Written Answers Nos. 64-83
64. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the severe poverty and deprivation being experienced by lone parent households, particularly in the context of budget 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26406/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraResearch repeatedly shows that the best way to tackle poverty among lone parents is through employment and the Indecon report on lone parents, published in 2017, echoed this view. The report found that the changes made to the one-parent family payment scheme in 2012 increased employment and reduced welfare dependency. It also found that the changes increased the probability of employment and higher employment income for lone parents. The report also concluded that assisting lone parents to enhance skills also needs to be seen as a key objective, as low paid employment will not, on its own, ensure a reduction in the risk of poverty.
Continued economic recovery, together with the Budget measures to date, is likely to have impacted positively on poverty rates since 2016 (the most recent available data) and this improvement is expected to continue over the coming years. My Department’s social impact assessments of Budgets 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are an indicator of this improvement. These show a cumulative increase of €36.75 in the average weekly household income of employed lone parents (and €33.60 for unemployed lone parents). This compares favourably with a weekly increase of €34.45 for the average household.
Budget 2018 measures that took effect from 29th March this year (specifically the increases to the income disregard, the primary rate and the increase for a qualified child) will assist a lone parent in receipt of the one-parent family payment or jobseeker’s transitional payment, working 15 hours a week on the National Minimum Wage, to be better off by almost €1,000 per year.
We know that social transfers are very effective in reducing poverty and that Eurostat data shows that Ireland performs well in this regard. But we also know that reducing poverty for lone parents is not just about income support. The latest CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) for 2016 shows that being at work reduces the consistent poverty rate for lone parents by nearly two-thirds, highlighting that the best way to tackle poverty among lone parents is to assist them into employment.
Our focus, therefore, through the activation service provided by my Department, is on supporting lone parents to make the transition into employment and, at a cross-governmental level on assisting these families through the provision of quality services in areas including education, training and employment supports, and childcare.
65. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to resource and implement the national action plan for social inclusion to work towards eliminating poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26573/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTackling poverty remains a fundamental aspiration of Irish society and the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a firm commitment to develop a new Integrated Framework for Social Inclusion, to tackle inequality and poverty. This will be a successor to the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 (NAPinclusion) and its 2015-2017 update which concluded last year. My Department is developing the new four year plan for the period 2018-2021. Like its predecessor, the plan will have a ‘whole of Government’ approach that aims to improve outcomes for the vulnerable and marginalised in our society, while recognising a shared responsibility across Government to implement actions to achieve the overall objectives. The theme of the new plan is one of active inclusion, which will enable every citizen, notably the most disadvantaged, to fully participate in society, including having a job. The primary focus will be the reduction of consistent poverty, which in 2016 was 8.3%. This will be achieved through a three pronged approach: supporting incomes through as high as possible a level of employment, and encouraging and assisting people to enter the workforce; setting targets for the level of relevant welfare payments designed to reduce relative poverty among those who cannot (or cannot find) work; and finally improving access to quality services such as health, education, childcare, training, housing, community supports in order to minimize deprivation for all groups and, in particular those who are on relatively low incomes. Officials in my Department are working with their colleagues, both internally and in other departments, to identify specific actions for inclusion in the plan. It is my intention that the plan will be published in Autumn 2018.
66. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the proposals she will bring forward to solve the problems and issues surrounding seasonal and part-time workers' rights in seasonal employment in particular the fishing industry, farming and the hospitality sector; the timeframe in which she plans to deal with these issues in view of the fact that the current anomalies are causing considerable financial strain on many workers throughout the country; if proposals to address these issues in budget 2019 are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26537/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for a jobseeker's payment a person must be unemployed, be available for and genuinely seeking work, and as a result be unemployed for at least 4 days out of 7. Seasonal work can be full-time, part-time or casual. A seasonal worker who is employed on a full-time basis is not entitled to a jobseeker’s payment while in that employment. Contributions paid during this time can be used to requalify for jobseeker’s benefit subject to scheme conditionality. Where a person exhausts entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit, they must pay 13 additional PRSI contributions after the last day of payment in order to requalify. If a seasonal or a part-time worker meets this requirement they may requalify. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits can assist employees in qualifying for short-term schemes such as jobseeker’s benefit and enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes.
Seasonal and part-time workers who have paid or credited contributions in either of the last two complete income tax years are awarded credits. Credits protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI.
The jobseeker’s schemes can provide significant support to individuals who work part-time. Where a person does not re-qualify or have used up their entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit they can apply for jobseeker’s allowance. For instance, an individual can earn a little over €20,190 per year and still retain a small jobseeker's allowance payment, while the equivalent threshold for an individual with a qualified adult is almost €34,700 if they are both working.
My Department operates a fast-tracking system for customers who sign-off on their jobseeker’s claim to take up work or a training course for a period of up to 12 weeks. In these cases, the claim is not closed but payment is suspended temporarily for the duration of the work or training course. When the person signs on again the claim can be reactivated without delay and payment restored.
Any changes to the jobseeker’s schemes would have to be considered in the context of Budget 2019 subject to the overall budgetary context. It is important in the interests of equity and fairness that any changes to the conditions for receipt of a jobseekers payment would apply to all recipients, including those who could be categorised as seasonal and part-time workers.
67. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person claiming jobseeker's benefit or allowance that is 62 years of age or over is required to engage with the compulsory activation process; if not, if they are subject to penalty rates for non-engagement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26513/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseekers aged 62 or over are not selected for activation and are not subject to mandatory activation measures. Penalty rates do not apply in these circumstances. They may, of course, avail of employment supports on a voluntarily basis. Jobseekers, who are already engaged in activation and turn 62, are required to complete the process. Penalty rates may apply should they fail to continue to engage without good cause. When considering whether the application of a penalty rate is the appropriate course of action, a Deciding Officer of the Department considers the circumstances and facts in each case. Where a jobseeker is dissatisfied with the decision to apply a penalty rate, it is open to him / her to lodge an appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
68. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures she is taking to address the youth unemployment rate of 11.9%; if the rate of jobseeker's payments for persons of 26 years of age will be equalised in budget 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26512/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy to reduce unemployment is twofold. First, through policies set out in the Action Plan for Jobs, to create an environment in which business can succeed and create jobs; and second, through Pathways to Work, to ensure that as many as possible of these new jobs and other vacancies that arise in our economy are filled by people taken from the Live Register, including young people. Reflecting the impact of government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, youth unemployment continues to fall with a rate of 11.9% (32,300 persons) in May 2018 estimated by CSO, down from a peak rate of almost 32% in 2012. The youth unemployment rate now lies significantly below the EU-28 average rate of 16.1%. The actual number of young people unemployed is estimated to have peaked at 97,800 persons in late 2010. Youth unemployment figures can be expected to fall further this year in line with the continuing forecast fall in overall unemployment.
In early 2018, youth unemployment is already below the 12% target level set in Pathways to Work for 2020. Additionally, Eurostat figures indicate that the number of young people in full-time employment has grown from 197,000 in mid-2012 to 238,000 by Q4 2017.
These trends indicate that together with improvements in the labour market and economic recovery, our approach to youth employment, which focuses in the first instance on enhancing processes and policies for assisting young unemployed people to find and secure sustainable jobs, has been relatively successful.
Under the Government’s policies to support the young unemployed, the first intervention is to provide case officer support to help newly unemployed young people find and secure sustainable jobs. There is monthly engagement with all young jobseekers by a case officer, and a Personal Progression Plan is developed to chart the steps to be taken to facilitate a return to employment, which may include further education and training or other opportunities.
For those who do not find employment, through the process just described, additional offers are provided for. Most such offers (over 70%) are in existing further education or training programmes. Others are in existing community-based employment programmes/workplace based interventions such as CE, Gateway and Tús and First Steps; or in subsidies to employers, through JobsPlus Youth. Long-term unemployed jobseekers under-25 are also referred to JobPath, a contracted, payment-by-results employment services that provides additional resources and supports to those long-term unemployed.
The strategy document Pathways to Work 2016 to 2020 includes some additional actions in relation to addressing youth unemployment:
1) increase the relative share of workplace-based interventions (Gateway, TÚS, Positive to Work) for youth unemployed;
2) ensure the frequency of engagement with all young unemployed people is a minimum of one case officer meeting per month;
3) restructure the First Steps programme for young unemployed people to improve take-up by offering a higher level of support to jobseekers and employers;
4) implement the Defence Forces Skills for Life employment support programme.
Each of these actions is either ongoing or has been completed.
I will shortly be introducing a new work experience programme targeted specifically at young jobseekers who are long-term unemployed or who face significant barriers to gaining employment. The new Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) will provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. Operational details are currently being finalised.
In line with other EU and OECD jurisdictions where such measures feature, reduced rates for younger jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009 and extended to those under 26 in Budget 2014. These measures were introduced to protect young people from welfare dependency by providing young jobseekers with a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training or to take up employment.
Where a young jobseeker participates on an education or training programme they receive a higher weekly payment of €198 which is the maximum personal rate for jobseeker’s allowance. In addition, recipients of jobseeker’s allowance under 26 years of age who have dependent children are not subject to the reduced rates. Reduced rates also do not apply to people under 25 who were in the care of the State during the year prior to their 18th birthday.
The appropriate rate for all social welfare rates of payment, including the weekly rates for young jobseekers, will be considered by Government in the context of budgetary deliberations.
69. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Comptroller and Auditor General signed off on the Citizen Information Board's accounts for 2017; and if so, when (details supplied). [26531/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for providing information, advice (including money and budgeting advice service) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. CIB delivers on this remit through a network of service delivery partners including the Citizens Information Services (CIS) and the Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) whose governance arrangements are in the process of being reorganised from 93 local companies to a regionally based 16 company model comprising 8 CIS and 8 MABS companies. Section 22 of the Comhairle Act, 2000 requires that the annual accounts, approved by the Board, are submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and the 2017 accounts have already been submitted by CIB for audit. When the audit is complete, a copy of the annual accounts and the report of the C&AG will be presented to the Board and to the Minister and will then be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, as required by legislation.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
70. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to the tender seeking the supply of facial image matching software to improve the performance of the Standard Authentication Framework Environment, SAFE, registration process; if changes are planned to the way in which facial matching technology is employed based on the tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26570/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe use of facial matching technology has been successfully employed by my Department for a number of years. What is proposed, in the context of this competitive tender process, is a continuation and upgrade of this existing technology.
In accordance with Government policy, the Department is running an open procurement for the provision of the services as described in the request for tender (RFT). Public procurement is governed by well-established EU and national rules and guidelines. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. The closing date for the submission of the final item relating to the tender is Thursday 14th June. All tenders received in response to this procurement competition will then be evaluated on the basis of criteria outlined in the RFT.
I hope this clarifies the matters for the Deputy.
71. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to provide a pension scheme to community employment scheme supervisors; the number of supervisors affected in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26532/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) scheme supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector that receive public funding and are not employees of my Department, nor are they public servants. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) have taken the lead in addressing the entitlement of CE supervisors to occupational pensions. A Community Sector High Level Forum, chaired by DPER is currently examining this issue. Other Departments including my Department are represented on this group, as are the unions and Pobal and a number of meetings have been held.
A detailed scoping exercise was carried out with input from the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) on the potential costs of providing Exchequer support for the establishment of such a pension scheme for employees across the Community and Voluntary sector in Ireland.
The exercise clearly illustrated that this matter presents very significant issues for the Exchequer, with a potential cost to the State of €188 million per annum in respect of funding to enable an employer pension contribution in State funded Community and Voluntary organisations, excluding any provision for immediate ex-gratia lump sum payment of pension as sought, which could, depending on the size of the sector, entail a further Exchequer cost of up to €318 million.
I am very conscious that while the issue relates to Community Employment supervisors and assistant supervisors, such individuals comprise of just one small group within the wider Community and Voluntary sector any provision of State funding for such a scheme in respect of those employees could potentially give rise to claims for similar schemes on the part of those in the broader sector, thus crystallising the potential level of liability. Any solution to this issue will require careful consideration, in particular the implications for scarce Exchequer resources.
As at the end of May 2018 there are 100 supervisors and 9 assistant supervisors in County Cork.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
73. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the projected cost of the campaign on false self-employment; the number of cases that had been ongoing in advance of the launch of the campaign; the way in which that number compared with 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26565/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe media campaign on false self-employment was aimed at ensuring that there is better public awareness of the important service the Department provides in determining employment status and to help develop a better understanding of the scale and nature of false self-employment. The main advertising campaign ran over a two week period from the 7th May, with digital and social media promotions continuing for a further two weeks. The campaign directed people to a dedicated page on my Department’s website as a first step. The website provides important information on the impact of false self-employment and the criteria used to determine whether someone is an employee or self-employed, as well as contact information for Scope section, the Workplace Relations Commission and Revenue. The new web page has attracted more than 10,500 visits during the campaign with an average time of over three minutes spent on the page which is regarded as very favourable. Our Twitter ad got a favourable reaction overall with 1.2 million “impressions” and more than 100,000 seeing it. Scope section received some 50 calls and 30 emails during the campaign from individuals who had become aware of the service directly as a result of the ad campaign. Feedback suggests the detailed information available on the dedicated website appears to have been successful in addressing issues for many people. The majority of callers confirmed that they had visited the website first before contacting the Department. Ten formal applications for a Scope decision were registered. The advertising campaign has cost approximately €165,000 (including VAT). This includes all advertising, creative development and translation costs in eight languages.
From January to April 2018 Scope section made 395 determinations of employment status and PRSI class. For the same period in 2017, there were 319 cases decided.
My Department is continuously engaging with its broad customer and stakeholder base to increase public awareness of its many schemes and services.
76. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an assessment of the increase of agency work and short-term contracts as opposed to full-time contracts across the economy has been made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26437/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to conduct research into contingent employment in Ireland. Contingent employment generally describes an employment relationship that is non-permanent – that is employees on temporary contracts and freelancers. The ESRI presented its initial findings at a WRC seminar on the World of Work last February.
The main conclusion of the ESRI research presented at that time was that the incidence of contingent employment ranged between 8 and 9 percent of total employment between 1998 and 2005 before increasing to over 10 percent following the recession, then falling back towards its pre-recession level in 2016. I understand that the final report of the ESRI is due to be published shortly. Further, I note from the Central Statistics Office Labour Force Survey for Quarter 4 2017 that the increase in total employment of 66,800 in the year to Q4 2017 was represented by an increase in full-time employment of 90,000 (an increase of 5.4%) and a decrease in part-time employment of 23,300 (a decrease of 4.8%). https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/lfs/labourforcesurveyquarter42017/
Good progress has been made in recent years in terms of our economic recovery, in creating new job opportunities, the majority of which are full-time positions. However, we must remember those people who, not by choice, are in less secure arrangements. In this respect, the Government is delivering on its Programme for Government commitment to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 is in response to this commitment. The Bill completed Committee Stage in the Dáil on 17th May and Report Stage is scheduled for 26th and 27th June.
78. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures she plans to implement towards supporting stay-at-home parents; and the funding proposed to be allocated in budget 2019 in this regard. [26582/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe sole universal child-related payment for parents, regardless of their employment status, administered by my Department is Child Benefit. Child Benefit is a universal payment to help families with the cost of raising children and plays an important role in tackling child poverty. Receipt of the payment is not contingent on a means test or social insurance contributions. Child Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to almost 629,000 families in respect of nearly 1.2 million children, with an estimated expenditure of over €2 billion in 2018. As Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, I support the universality of the Child Benefit payment, and the principle that all families with children should receive this income support.
Given the universality of Child Benefit it is not a payment which lends itself to a targeted approach and the considerable costs associated with any upward adjustment to the payment can result in benefits being spread very thinly, rather than making a difference where there is most need. Government policy is to provide additional supports for parents and their children through increased services, rather than increased cash transfers. This includes such services as free early-years education through the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, and enhanced provision of affordable childcare. Any enhanced budgetary spending in these areas will be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
Finally, I understand the Deputy had a specific interest in relation to the Home Carer Tax Credit. This is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance.
79. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the level of bureaucracy involved in the annual forms that applicants for farm assist are required to fill out and return; if the level of information that is required on an annual basis will be reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26338/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra83. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of farm assist recipients nationally; the reduction in numbers of farm assist recipients over the past three years; if she will review the level of bureaucracy involved in the annual application process for farm assist recipients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26339/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 83 together.
The number of persons in receipt of farm assist at year end was 7,234 in 2017, 7,828 in 2016 and 8,790 in 2015.
Farm assist is a means-tested income support scheme for farmers. To qualify for the payment, a customer must be a farmer, farming land in the State, aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test. The annual farm assist review form is a necessary part of the normal review process for these customers.
The means test for farm assist takes account of all income sources with certain disregards applicable to specific income sources. Different rules apply to income from farming and other forms of self-employment. Income from certain schemes such as the Green Low Carbon Agri Environment Scheme (GLAS), income from employment and income from property and capital are taken into account. An examination of farm outgoings is also included in the assessment process.
Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. Details of any exceptional circumstances are also taken into account so as to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the current situation.
The information provided by the customer on the review form covers both the income generated and the operating costs associated with the farm, all of which are required as part of the annual review process.
The annual farm assist review form is kept under ongoing review by my officials and there are no plans to change the current review criteria.
80. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has considered the report on seasonal and part-time workers' rights and entitlements to social welfare payments drafted by her Department; her plans in relation to the problems experienced by those workers in obtaining social welfare payments once their part-time work ceases; if she is drafting solutions based on the report on seasonal and part-time workers' entitlements for budget 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26536/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important in the interests of equity and fairness that the conditions for receipt of a jobseeker's payment apply to all recipients, including those who could be categorised as seasonal and part-time workers. Where a person exhausts his or her entitlement to jobseeker's benefit, he or she must pay 13 additional PRSI contributions after the last day of payment in order to re-qualify. The 13 contributions needed to re-qualify for jobseeker's benefit can be paid in respect of full time employment, seasonal employment, part-time employment or casual employment. If a seasonal or a part time worker meets this requirement they may re-qualify for jobseeker’s benefit. This requirement is in place to ensure the person has a reasonable connection with the labour market before he or she can re-qualify for payment. If a person does not re-qualify for jobseeker’s benefit or has used up his or her entitlement to jobseeker's benefit, then he or she may qualify for jobseeker's allowance, subject to the means test and other conditions.
The current days based system can also provide significant income supports to jobseeker's who are part-time workers or casually employed. For instance an individual can earn a little over €20,190 per year and still retain a small jobseeker's allowance payment, while the equivalent threshold for an individual with a qualified adult is almost €34,700 if they are both working.
I intend to submit the report on jobseeker's benefit duration and the treatment of seasonal and part-time workers to the Joint Oireachtas Committee shortly. This report will be published subsequently. The report may inform any changes considered in the context of Budget 2019 subject to the overall budgetary context.
81. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department's review of the current maintenance and liable relative procedures for lone parents has been finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26576/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is now reviewing the current maintenance and liable relative procedures, insofar as they relate to the one-parent family payment scheme administered by my Department, and work is ongoing on this review. This will necessitate my Department liaising with the Department of Justice and Equality as the Department responsible for the Family Law Acts, which govern family maintenance arrangements.
82. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department is examining the issue of the falsification of birth certificates; if so, the action she plans to take; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26575/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe General Register Office (GRO) operates under the aegis of my Department and has responsibility for the administration of the Civil Registration Service in Ireland. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the Civil Registration Service through a network of local civil registration office across the State. Births are registered at local registrar’s and Superintendent Registrar’s offices.
Adoptions are registered by the Registrar General. The register of births records such data as are required by law relating to each birth occurring in the State. The information recorded is provided to the registrar by a qualified informant, normally, the parents or a member of staff of the hospital or nursing home where the birth took place. The registrar is reliant on the qualified informant to provide truthful and accurate information. From a visual inspection of a register entry it is impossible to say whether it is false or not. Questionable entries in the register can only be identified on foot of information or evidence given by third parties.
As the Deputy is aware, my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone, T.D., recently announced that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, would be contacting people in 126 cases where births were incorrectly registered between 1946 and 1969. These cases were identified during an analysis of adoption records that were transferred to Tusla by the former adoption society St Patrick’s Guild.
Minister Zappone has directed that further investigations be carried out now to see if clear evidence of incorrect registrations can be obtained from the records of other former adoption agencies held by Tusla or the Adoption Authority. I understand that the terms of reference for the review will be published shortly. The GRO will cooperate fully with any request for assistance by Tusla or by any individual affected by this issue. Illegal entries in the register of births, where they have been identified, can be dealt with under existing legislation which provides for cancellation, correction of errors and late registrations.
