Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 18 January 2024

Public Accounts Committee

Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Social Insurance Fund 2022
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 13 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 14 - Ex gratia Payments of €1.4 million to Social Welfare Branch Managers
Chapter 15 - Raising Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 16 - Recovery of Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 17 - Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund

9:30 am

Mr. John McKeon:

There are a couple of things there. First, when we do award carer's claims or disability allowance claims, we make it clear to people: "It is a means-tested payment, and if your circumstances change, please tell us." There is a balance to be struck after that because, while we do need to contact people and say, "Have your means changed? Please tell us because otherwise you are working up a debt", and that is a positive thing to do, we also get representations saying: "Why are you bothering us? You are being suspicious. You are being intrusive." I get as many calls giving out to us for contacting people with very routine letters as I do representations saying, "This person now has a debt and you did not tell them." It is a matter of getting that balance. It is-----