Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014. In discussing the Bill, one of the more important tenets to consider is how we can help people trapped in options where even if they are offered work, it would make little or no benefit financially to take it up. I realise the offer of work may not come as often as I would like. I would have preferred more provisions in this Bill with that aim. Any of us on the doorsteps over the past month or more would have realised that it was a major issue. People, often in single income households, are forced to contribute heavily under different headings in the State but may feel angry at neighbours, friends, associates or family members who in their mind receive much from the State but contribute little while still having options. Where people do not have options it is a different ball game. There could have been greater emphasis on encouraging clients of the Department of Social Protection to look more earnestly at accessing the work place and incentivising people within those households to get back to work where it is offered.

I welcome many of the provisions in the Bill, with one in section 16 essentially dealing with the protection of the interests of women under the social welfare code. An issue that has come before us many times is the example of a girl leaving school or college before entering the workplace and making contributions. When that woman gets married and rears a family, she would have worked in the home but she would have returned to work afterwards, continuing to make contributions. Such people may have expected to have contributed enough to earn a full rate contributory pension but unfortunately it may not be the case. Contributions are calculated but the manner in which the time worked at home is considered is unfair, and by assessing it over total years of work, the result is a small mean contribution over each year. The matter must be addressed because this issue of fairness greatly affects married women. It has come to light over the past few years and it will become a greater issue in the next couple of years.

The previous speaker mentioned overpayments and claiming back payments. He mentioned two cases from the total overpayment amount in 2012 of €97 million. The idea that we can disregard the section of the Bill dealing with overpayments defies logic. Overpayments arising from suspected fraud or customer error must be dealt with. We have heard staggering figures almost on an annual basis of the money recovered through effective fraud control measures within the Department. In 2012 the estimate was €97 million, meaning the rate is far too high.

Good fraud prevention measures will have to be a cornerstone of the work of the Department to make sure those entitled to benefits get the correct rate as set out in legislation. We have a relatively high rate of social protection within the European or OECD context. While that is good, it makes it harder for some families and parents to access the workplace.

Almost 8% of overpayments are departmental errors, which is high, even in the context of the €97 billion budget. Every effort should be made to wipe this out and put systems into the social welfare offices to ensure there are no overpayment errors. If a client is overpaid through departmental error, whether for a year, a week or 20 years, he or she has a case and the Department puts the chance of reclaiming that money at risk.

Very few will ever be told until they retire or claim the State pension what they are due. They will be given a contribution history, or part of one. When they ask where they stand with respect to their own pension, it is difficult to get accurate information. I can understand the reticence among some officials to state an amount, but it would help people who have contributed throughout their working lives to know what likely pension they will receive and how they might increase or improve their contributory pension. Some may wish to continue to contribute after they reach 66. They may wish to retire at 70 and would like to engage with the Department about how to get a greater contributory pension. That could be considered.

I welcome the development of the Intreo offices. More work needs to be done but the amalgamation of the social protection and community welfare office work and FÁS and An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna, SOLAS, employees into a one-stop shop that brings people closer to the marketplace is very important. The Bill does not address this directly but I compliment the Department of Social Protection on taking that approach. It needs, however, to be rolled out further and faster throughout the State. It is an important initiative to get people back to work.

Some concern has been raised about payments through An Post. I am a postmaster. There is genuine concern that the contract for social welfare payments is being neglected. The departmental officials should keep in mind the consequences of disregarding how payments are made in the post office, particularly when it comes to fraud prevention, security and offering a more holistic service to clients. Quite often officials within the post office network have the information to help clients maximise their social protection service. That is not being taken into account and it is a shame it is not mentioned in the Bill.

I welcome the provisions in the Bill. There is work to be done to maximise the potential of social protection clients to get back into the workplace. That should be the objective of every Deputy as we move into a better economy.

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