Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes, it had not leaked. It went to the sub-committee first.

The Mangan committee indicated that 85% of formerly self-employed persons who had submitted claims did obtain access to social welfare supports. The outcome of such claims depends in large part on the production of information by claimants, something which has also become apparent in the case, for instance, of the farm assist scheme. For self-employed persons generally, the information basis is the previous year's accounts. However, the enhanced capacity of the Department means that we can now take into account substantial changes in circumstances, an issue I have discussed with the Irish Farmers Association recently. Until recently the system was much more rigid, it being a case of last year's accounts or nothing. Now officials can take account of circumstances where a self-employed person or farmer has experienced a catastrophic loss of income and is in financial dire straits. If such persons provide us with up-to-date information, we are able to help them much more quickly.