Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Public Accounts Committee
2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 – Social Protection
Chapter 21 – Expenditure on Welfare and Employment Schemes
Chapter 22 – Welfare Overpayment Debts
Chapter 23 – Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Social Insurance Fund – Annual Accounts 2011
11:15 am
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Ms O'Donoghue is right about the pressure staff are under. We know it. A significant issue we come across is delay which I have raised with Ms O'Donoghue before. I acknowledge that the Department is trying to deal with it but an application for disability or invalidity benefit might take a year to deal with. Fraud, however, adds greatly to the stress of staff. I revert to the issue of deterrence. If we can stop this at point A, it would make a significant difference to the system.