Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Minister stated that a number of families have reasons for not applying for this supplement. She should outline such reasons to the House because it is unusual for people who are eligible for something not to apply, unless they would lose something else as a result. That is the only logical reason I can discern for such a failure to apply. I acknowledge the Department's IT systems may vary in respect of local area offices and so on. However, it is difficult to understand the reason a system cannot be evolved in respect of those who make applications for other payments. The Department has the PPS numbers of all social welfare recipients and even if it is unable to state definitely that a person is eligible for family income supplement, it should be able to at least inform them that they may be eligible for such a payment. Consequently, people at least would be aware of its existence.

While people are becoming more conscious of its availability, it is somewhat like the mortgage interest supplement, the existence of which some people also are unaware. Such a system should be evolved rather than being obliged to engage in expensive advertising and so on, which does not always target those who are most at risk or who need the supplement or who are eligible for it. There must be a method by which people can be made more aware of the supplement through their regular dealings with the Department within the social welfare system.

See this speech in context