Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I move amendment No. 21:

In page 15, line 22, after "may" to insert "reasonably".

Basically, the purpose of all three proposed amendments is to insert the word "reasonably" and pertains to the information the HSE seeks when making the assessment. The Bill as it stands states, "shall furnish all information which the Executive may request in connection with the consideration of the application". I suggest the phrase should be "reasonably request" and my reason for so doing is that at times, people have great difficulty when applying for items and can be asked constantly for more information. Although they supply what they think is all the requisite information, they then are informed that other information, such as a bank balance statement or something similar is required.

I made the point on Committee Stage that this trend is obvious in respect of applications for third level grants. One may appear before one's local authority in the belief that one has brought in everything but its officials respond by requesting a household bill from where one lived two years previously or whatever. Such applicants can be reduced to tears at times because they are asked for so many new items every time they visit the office. My purpose in tabling this amendment was to achieve a sense of reasonableness about the information that would be required by the HSE. Obviously one must provide everything necessary to make a fair assessment of whether a person should qualify but if the HSE is given carte blanche in this regard, it could seek all sorts of extraneous information that is not relevant. Moreover, it also could ask for new information each time an applicant thinks he or she has completed the application. In summary, the purpose of these amendments is to achieve a sense of reasonableness in this regard and to ensure that people are not sent through all sorts of unnecessary hoops when making an application.

See this speech in context