Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I broadly welcome this amendment because other Senators and I have been dealing with people who have had to reapply on several occasions until their application is successful. The paperwork is immense. Are we safeguarding the social welfare system by putting in place a stipulation on how far back one can go? Once an application is reviewed and found to be successful, the payment is backdated to the date of application. If the initial application was made five years ago, will the ramifications be that the Department will have to pay significant arrears from the date of the initial application some five years previously? Are we safeguarding ourselves by saying that the claim will be backdated to the date the Department was notified of the change of circumstances rather than to the date of application? Are we allowed to do that following the High Court ruling? Will the Minister clarify the position?