I should like to ask a question in connection with the reply the Minister gave to the last part of Deputy Brady's question when he said that because of an oversight a detailed reply did not issue. I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware of the number of oversights of this kind that have occurred in the Department and is it not indicative of the situation which has arisen that because detailed replies are not sent to Deputies within a reasonable time, so many parliamentary questions are directed to the Minister in relation to delays in processing claims?

I would regret that Deputies would not get detailed replies. I am taking the matter up to ensure that when a Deputy writes to the Department he will get a detailed reply. I am sure that will happen. If there are delays in replies, if the matter is brought to my attention and if I am given factual information, I will take the matter up with the Department.

If it is possible for a Deputy to gain the complete information within a very short period of time as a result of a parliamentary question to the Minister, I suggest it should also be possible for a Deputy to gain the same information by way of detailed reply from the Department. I would ask the Minister to investigate the possibility of having this done.

I would have to say that it is not possible. As the Deputy is well aware, the fact that questions have to be replied to in a given time makes it incumbent on the Department to reply. As a result of these questions being put down there are often delays in other areas of the Department because intense pressure has been put on. As regards the ordinary, mundane question, I would prefer that Deputies would direct them in the normal way. If they would take them up with me I would ensure that delays would be cut to a minimum. The fact that questions are put down and have to be answered puts tremendous pressure on the Department which I believe is not in the best interest of social welfare beneficiaries.

Would the Minister accept that not only are Deputies not being replied to but ordinary individuals who most of us agree should be replied to promptly are not getting acknowledgments from the Department for a considerable time? This is not a new problem. It has been there for a long time. I would ask the Minister to turn his attention to that matter. It may save a lot of questions appearing on the Order Paper.

I would agree. Unquestionably, Deputies and the general public are entitled to replies from the Department and this is something I have taken up with the Department and that I am very concerned about. I am having a thorough ongoing examination made with a view to having more computerisation in the Department, which will lead to more efficiency and quicker replies.

As the Deputy who put down the question I should like to make it clear that I do not attach blame to the Minister of State for the delays or for my not having received a reply to my earlier representations, but I am sure the Minister will appreciate that I am not a Deputy who puts down questions very frequently. My reason for doing so on this occasion was to try to get information on representations made six months ago. It is most unreasonable for any Minister or any Department to indicate——

A question, Deputy, please.

Would the Minister agree with me that it would be most unfair for any Minister to indicate that the time of the House is being wasted by such questions?

This is more of a speech, Deputy.

Certainly it would not have been necessary to ask such questions if we had received the information on time. Could I ask the Minister for his recommendation as to what we should do in the future in relation to representations?

That is a separate question.

Can the Minister give any guarantee that we may receive replies?

The Deputy is abusing Question Time. That is quite clear.

I would like to point out to the Deputy that I did not indicate that he was wasting the time of the House. Every Deputy has a right to put down a question and I would not deny that right. I merely said that it has to be answered in a given period of time which puts tremendous pressure on the Department. I did not request Deputies not to put questions down but asked that they do it in the normal way. If there are undue delays in receiving replies, the Deputies should bring that fact to my attention and I will have the matter looked into. I will bring this general question to the attention of the Department to see if matters can be improved. Everybody is entitled to a quick reply.

I have a path worn to the Minister's office.

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