Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection
Pre-Budget Consultation Process: Discussion with Minister for Social Protection
11:55 am
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I agree with the Minister and have encouraged quite a few people to sign, but there is often confusion in the local social welfare offices, which are telling people they are not entitled to sign for credits if they have homemaker's benefits, for example. I dealt with a case only this week in which a woman was distraught. She wanted to sign for credits so that, in time, she would be able to benefit from them. She was refused by a departmental official. Once we returned to the office, the matter was clarified. Perhaps an instruction within the system stipulating people are entitled to sign for credits would be useful because it will be beneficial, to women in particular.