Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill and a number of developments within it which are intended to reform and streamline the Department which deals with the most vulnerable and those most at risk in society. I have some concerns but it has taken so long to implement some of what I would consider to be very obvious reforms.

There is huge expenditure on rent supplement and it is totally unacceptable that there are still some landlords who may not be tax compliant and who are not owning up to their responsibilities in this area. Further to that, I sympathise fully with what Deputy Brady said about landlords, in regard to their behaviour, attitude and quality of provision they make for what are very often vulnerable people . I have a number of examples in my constituency where that is the case.

I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran about this. It is a cross-departmental issue in many ways. It has been very difficult to get any resolution to it. I am not sure whether some landlords are tax compliant; all I know for certain is that the quality of the housing they provide to very vulnerable people is appalling, disgraceful and should not be tolerated in any civilised society. I cannot understand why they are allowed to continue as landlords. There must be some system whereby they are brought to book and made to be responsible. I hope the Minister takes that on board. I accept his reference to it but it is unacceptable that they are not tax compliant and taking advantage of people who simply cannot look out for themselves.

I welcome the proposal to sign on by electronic means. If this goes some way towards taking account of social welfare fraud it is very welcome. Another issue which I do not think anybody else has referred to but which is important are the very sad circumstances where one sees people queueing up for many hours outside social welfare offices. Their dignity is being put at risk. People who have been employed for most of their lives and now find themselves unemployed have to suffer the indignity of queueing for many hours. I am very conscious of that in my constituency. On Thomas Street and Bishop Street one sees photo shots of people queueing up. It is very sad that happens to be the case.

If the electronic system was introduced it would free up staff which would be very welcome. On the timeframe which is involved in dealing with applications and appeals, it is totally unacceptable that people have to wait so long. I am aware of a number of very sad cases. I am conscious of one lady who is waiting on the domiciliary care allowance and has been waiting for weeks on end for a very sensitive and delicate case which has not been addressed. It is an appalling state of affairs. If staff can be relocated that is to be welcomed.

While the vast majority of staff who are delivering front-line services in social welfare offices are hugely positive in their approach and very courteous and efficient, I unfortunately am aware of a recent case where one of my constituents was very badly treated, which is totally unacceptable. As far as I am aware this is not widespread but it is not acceptable that it should never happen. Given the current climate we are living in and the sensitivities surrounding people who are queueing up for social welfare, whatever pressures people are under - I am conscious of them - a client who has to queue up and wait for attention must be treated with courtesy and dignity.

The area of habitual residency is one where courtesy and common sense might be very welcome. I want to refer in some detail to a particular case I encountered recently. A gentleman who was abroad for a number of years came back to live in Ireland. I understand the rules regarding habitual residency and the regulations that apply but there is a time when bureaucracy and red tape must be set aside. When the man returned to Ireland he was diagnosed as having a serious mental condition and clearly was not in a position to look out for himself.

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