Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I accept that becoming unemployed and having to claim jobseeker's payment is extremely difficult for people. I am trying to ensure the process of making a claim is as easy as possible. In 2008, we commenced a review of the processes and procedures for accepting and making decisions on claims. Certain initiatives have been introduced at all local and branch offices. A streamlined process has been introduced for people who had made a claim in the previous two years. The application form has been simplified so that claimants have to provide only details of any circumstances that have changed since the previous claim. A simplified procedure has been introduced to assist those who have to move to jobseeker's allowance when their period of jobseeker's benefit expires. More straightforward procedures for providing evidence of identity and address have been introduced. Application forms for jobseeker's schemes are now available on the Department's website, which contains comprehensive information on claiming jobseeker's payment, including details of the supporting documents that are required. When a person makes a claim for jobseeker's benefit or jobseeker's allowance, he or she can download and complete a claim form and bring it to his or her nearest local office. In addition, we have introduced an appointment system for taking claims in offices with high volumes of claims. Under this initiative, when a person first attends at a local office to claim, he or she is given details of the supporting documents required together with an appointment to attend to have his or her claim taken. The appointment system has been introduced in 14 local offices to date, seven of which are in Dublin. It is being extended to three other offices over the coming weeks, two of which are in Dublin. This initiative has been particularly effective in reducing queuing in local offices and it has also helped improve processing times where the customer provides supporting documentation at the point of claim. This initiative will be extended to a number of other offices over the coming months having regard to the volume of new claims at particular offices.

We are reviewing the processes involved in administering claims for those who are working reduced hours, such as part-time, casual and systematic short time. The existing arrangements are very labour intensive and it is envisaged that more streamlined arrangements, which will benefit customers and the Department, will be introduced in the near future.

These improvements are part of a programme of initiatives being developed by the Department to streamline processes and procedures in local and branch offices and it is intended that further improvements will be introduced on an ongoing basis during 2009.

See this speech in context