Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One of important aspects of the debate on this matter is that it was kick-started by the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children who said they wanted oversight of the system. I appreciate that the allowance is an issue and that the Department is the administrative body for it. On the issue of emergency needs payments, child benefit, etc., will Ms Harrington outline what appeals mechanisms are available to somebody who is not happy with the decisions that are made? What guidance does the Department give to its welfare officers if, for example, a person appears at the Intreo office, a decision is made, they go through and appeals mechanism and they are not happy with it? What advice do the welfare officers give if the person wants to appeal the decision and wants to know where to go?