Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

I will be interested in seeing the additional information. We are talking about vulnerable people in bad health. The Minister has spoken of delays in terms of weeks. I have heard of one particular case where a person was waiting for up to three months. I have been told there is a problem within the Department and that people were on long-term sick leave. How long are people actually waiting? What is the longest waiting period? Is the embargo on public servants the cause of the problem? There may not be enough people in the Department processing the forms.

How many staff are working in this area? Is it a matter of training people if others are out for the long term? Have people been waiting for six months? The Minister mentioned that some can go to the community welfare officer. Many people will not go to the community welfare officer, due to pride or whatever. I know of one case which was successful in obtaining arrears with the help of the Department. However, there are many people who do not want to go down that road and they borrow from families and others. In light of the difficulties that seem to be emerging in this section, will the Minister carry out some kind of organisational review? These are some the most vulnerable people in society, they are ill and in need of this money.

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