Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:

In terms of the detail of the level of expenditure, we are happy to provide to the committee the detail on the list of items and where they rank in terms of exceptional needs. I apologise if I have cut Mr. Shannon off in coming in to respond here. One advantage of the system is that because of the way this information is now being recorded, the community welfare officer or the person providing the service can assess a situation if somebody re-presents a case. We have a record on the system as to when payments were made. Therefore, if the person re-presents in a different office, the record is on the system and we know we have already made a payment.

Significant change has taken place since the scheme came to the Department and what we are talking about here is about the structures and controls we have put in place since 2011. Progress continues on that.