Mr. Graham Doyle:

We have done a lot of work on the website. I have mentioned the eligibility reckoner. A key point is data sharing. Deputy Daly touched on it earlier. It has been significant and it has brought about significant improvements to the system. It has really helped us to obtain information. It lessens the burden on the applicant because we do not have to request the information and they do not have to provide it, and it also provides us with more safeguards because we are getting the information that has already been approved from Departments and agencies.

Another key point concerns the segregation of applications. Applications numbered 103,000 this year. Speakers have touched today on nationality, progression and the income of the self-employed, for example. What we do is break up the elements into queues. I will not bore the members with all the details. The system allows us to have a very focused approach to dealing with applications as they come in. This is based on a recommendation we have implemented.

With regard to my area, the training of staff, there is a comprehensive staff training programme in place. When we are busy, we are busy. In the middle of the summertime, when all the applications are in, there is a comprehensive training programme. We are opening in mid-April this year and the training is starting tomorrow. We have a month's training with all staff to ensure they are up to speed with the system.

The answer to Senator Moloney's question on step-parents is very easy, she will be very glad to hear. If somebody becomes a step-parent, we do not take the income into account, unless he or she also becomes a legal guardian. It is only in the case of a parent or legal guardian. Where a mother remarries, we do not take the father's income into account unless he becomes a legal guardian.