Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We would see weaknesses. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme has been turned on its head in terms of where it is at the moment but we only found out as a committee what was going on when we actually had the Department come in to explain it. That should not be the case. We are at the coalface on this issue. We are equally busy as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, would be regarding this and we refer people on to those services as well. It would be useful for all Members of the Oireachtas to be kept in that loop because it is something we do on a day-to-day basis and could help circumvent some of the frustration that has been expressed across the Houses in terms of parliamentary questions, PQs, debates, and here in the committee.