Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The difficulty is that the Minister of State is quoting overall figures. We acknowledge that the country could not function without the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. That is a given. We also know from witnesses appearing before the Committee of Public Accounts that sometimes there is a deliberate policy not to give documentation. We took issue with this and argued that it was an appalling thing to say. Some 99% of people move forward with documentation. The Minister of State is telling the House the numbers of people who are benefiting.

We know that. They benefit as of right. They are saving the State an absolute fortune. The Minister of State knows that better than anyone.

What specific actions are being taken, and on what timeline? What is a reasonable period to process an application? I would have thought a matter of weeks - at the maximum, three weeks. What needs to be done to ensure that? What staff have been put in place? I really would like a specific answer so that I and my colleagues will not be standing up here again asking these questions. It should be a matter of course.

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