asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason for the delay in the payment of disability benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.

The person concerned claimed disability benefit from 30 June 1980. She was not entitled to payment at that time as she had no contributions to her credit in 1978-79 the contribution year governing her claim. Special investigations were made by my Department and as a result credit has been allowed for the contributions due. Payment of benefit has now been made up to 26 January 1981, the date of the last certificate received. The question of her entitlement to pay-related benefit is being investigated and any benefit due will issue as soon as possible.

How long did it take to give this person the necessary credit to enable her to get the benefit to which she was entitled? I am aware that she claimed it in July 1980. How long did it take?

Six months apparently.

If on your record you are not recorded as being in benefit, an investigation has to be undertaken. The investigation which took place led ultimately to payment of benefit.

When?

In January.

On 26 January.

When was all payment made?

All payment was made on 26 January.

To 26 January. When was it made from the Department?

After the Deputy put down a Dáil Question.

The date is not here.

Ceist 4.

When the Dáil question went down. If the Minister would answer my question I would not have to ask another supplementary. I asked a supplementary question which the Minister has not answered.

I cannot help that. This is an abuse of Question Time. Ceist 4.

May I ask a relevant supplementary question?

One.

Would the Minister not agree that his attempt to suggest that he is cutting red tape by crediting people where the employer has not made the return is non-credible when it transpires that it takes six months for this to happen? That is not cutting red tape. It is tying things up in red tape.

Six months and a Parliamentary Question.

Ceist 4.

The Department cannot pay out money when there are no accredited payments.

The Minister said they are being paid.

The Department investigated and found that in such a case accredited payments would be appropriate. If a company goes into receivership the Department will give accredited payments subsequently, although the payments have not been made.

Would the Minister answer Ceist 4?