asked the Minister for Social Welfare the action he proposes to take to prevent long delays in the payment of social welfare benefits in the Athy area of County Kildare.

I am aware that some difficulties have been encountered in dealing with benefit claims particularly claims for disability benefit, due to the change-over from the system of flat-rate contributions paid by means of stamped cards to the system of pay-related contributions. The pay-related contributions can only be collected in conjunction with the PAYE income tax collection system operated by the Revenue Commissioners.

The change-over came into operation on 5 January 1981 and, since then, in a proportion of cases the claimants are continuing to quote only their old insurance number and, as a result, difficulty is being experienced in identifying their insurance records under the new RSI numbering system. This has led to delay in the payment of benefit and in consequence there was an unavoidable build-up of arrears of payments.

I have issued directions to my Department to concentrate on removing all obstacles to the prompt payment of benefit. There is a full commitment of all resources to this task and the arrears are being steadily reduced. If the Deputy is aware of any cases of delay in payment of social welfare benefits in his constituency. I will arrange to have the cases investigated and payment of benefit issued as quickly as possible.

Is the Minister aware that everyone who sends certificates to his Department from that area has to wait at least seven weeks for any payment no matter what numbers he or she quotes?

I do not accept that there has been a delay in all cases. There have been delays in some cases because of the reasons I have outlined, that is that the correct numbers are not being quoted in many cases. Early in January there was an advertising campaign by the Department of Social Welfare asking claimants to quote both numbers when submitting their claims. In many cases this has not been done and, unfortunately, those cases are delayed.

Is the Minister of State aware of the case I quoted to the Minister in which a man was paid for one week which proved that his claim was in order? He has gone seven weeks without a second payment. I gave the details to the Minister in writing twice.

I am not aware of this case but I doubt very much if the fault lies in the Department. The correct numbers are not being forwarded.

Is the Minister aware that in the case referred to the two numbers were forwarded and only one payment was made after I had made representations? I then made representations again and in seven subsequent weeks not a single payment has been made, though I gave notice to the Minister twice in writing.

Will the Minister accept that what he has stated in regard to the RSI number is only a partial explanation for the terrible situation in the Department? Will he accept that in umpteen cases which I referred to the Department I was told the RSI number had not been given though I had given it? The large number of these cases on the Order Paper again today is an illustration that there is something dramatically wrong in the Department.

I accept there have been delays but they have been due to the reasons I have stated. There is nothing unusual in this. Delays can occur particularly in regard to disability payments and this has been the situation over the years.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I think the Minister said the delays are being caused because the RSI numbers have not been furnished. How is it that if a Deputy puts down a question and does not give any number, the file can be turned up within four days, but when an applicant gives only one number it takes weeks and weeks to get payment?

Deputies themselves are big offenders because when they are making cases for constituents they do not give numbers.

Is the Minister saying this case is not unusual? Everybody believes the Department of Social Welfare has broken down completely. Is the Minister aware of the seriousness of the situation?

That is not the case. There have been delays all along. Every effort is being made to get rid of the backlog.

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