Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:

I am not saying that because the scheme was operated through a different organisation, namely, the HSE. As it is now part of the Department and the staff operating the scheme are part of it, the expertise, history and tradition of the Department, in terms of how it informs income support, are brought to bear on the scheme in a much closer way than would previously have been possible. We have standardised where it has proved possible to standardise. However, I am mindful of the fact that discretion has to be part of that service and that is held dear by those who traditionally worked in the service.