Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

The information reaches people through public campaigning and advertising. The Department has publicised the scheme consistently to maximise the uptake by qualified families. Following the significant improvements in the qualifying income limits in the 2006 budget the Department undertook a week long nationwide awareness campaign in March of that year to encourage increased take-up of the scheme. This, combined with the improvement in the income limits, resulted in a strong upward trend in the level of new claims and, consequently, claims for renewals.

The Department has received 35,945 new and renewal claims to the end of November 2007 and has decided on a total of 29,840 cases. At 24 November 2007 there were 10,746 claims awaiting decision. These comprised 5,100 new claims and 5,646 renewal claims. The average time it takes to award a claim or renewal is 14 and a half weeks. We are impressed and pleased with the uptake of those claims, showing that the awareness campaigns were successful. The Department has commissioned a research project to examine the factors behind the level of take-up for the scheme. This is at tender stage and is expected to be completed in July next year.