I did not put down these questions lightly. I am a bit blue in the face from writing to the Department. Why has the situation not improved?

I am quite happy to go back here to what I said earlier during Question Time when we had a general discussion on the whole thing. The Deputy was not here at that time, but if the Ceann Comhairle agrees we will go back on it.

I am here now.

These questions relate mainly to several weeks ago, some before Easter. Basically the position has improved. The questions relate to matters which arose when persons were not quoting RSI numbers or for various other reasons. The only continuing problem now is difficulty in communication with the Department. This is related to a grade claim, an across the board civil service claim which is at present under discussion and which we hope to have sorted out. It has nothing whatever to do with the Department of Social Welfare but action in relation to the claim is being taken in the Department of Social Welfare.

Is the Minister aware that the volume of complaints from the public in regard to non-payments and underpayments is as great as ever, that it has not improved? I am getting the same volume of complaints. For instance, today I got a letter from a woman whose husband has been out of work since 31 January. He has five children and since 31 January he has been paid disability benefit at a single man's rate, £40.45 a week. How is that man expected to live? Why cannot cases like that be dealt with?

I have given the figures for payments being made weekly. The average figure for disability payments is 71,000 cases a week. Week in, week out, we have been paying about £73,000 for disability benefit payments. So the general level of payments is up to the normal level. I accept that there are outstanding problems and we are anxious to find those and have them sorted out. We have a communication difficulty which I have adverted to.

We cannot have a general discussion.

29.