Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I will not accept the amendment because there are already powers in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 to provide a more streamlined appeal mechanism once the transfer takes place between the community welfare officers in the HSE and my own Department. I believe that will address the need. In the meantime I will try to ensure that times are not unduly long for people.

In view of the demands made on the mortgage interest supplement and the rent supplement, it is my intention to try to keep this situation under review, with regard to the amounts in question and the qualifying criteria.

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