Delays in social welfare payments
Harte raised general delays and difficulty contacting the Department. Woods attributed delays, especially in disability benefit, partly to the changeover and claims or queries lacking RSI numbers.
Would the Minister explain more fully why there is such a delay. People in Donegal cannot get through by telephone. Deputies cannot now ring the Minister's office by telephone because——
Comment on this
If the Ceann Comhairle wishes, I will answer that. It is not the question that is here but, if the Ceann Comhairle wishes, I will answer that question. Since the Deputy has raised that question — the question of delays generally — which relate currently mainly to disability benefit and not to other areas if the claims are properly made, I should say that one of the difficulties currently experienced is the change-over which is going on at present. That is also exacerbated by the fact that a considerable number of queries, of the original claims, and of repeat claims, fail to carry the RSI and insurance numbers. I must say, sadly, that in January and February a total of 369 cases brought to me by Deputies did not quote these numbers. Of the total in the Dáil here today, 25 per cent of the questions do not quote the insurance number. If these insurance numbers are not quoted it creates tremendous difficulty for the staff of my Department. We carried out an extensive advertising campaign nationally to let everybody know that this change-over was taking place and that, from the beginning of January, it would be necessary to quote the two numbers in order to ensure immediate payment. I can understand the problems which have arisen with the public in general. But I would appeal to Deputies, when they put in queries, to get the RSI and insurance numbers, when we will deal with any queries from them very quickly.
