Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The main recommendations of the report include developing an integrated strategy on dying, death and bereavement by an interdepartmental committee following a process of consultation. It seeks to improve access to information about end of life services and make life easier for people at a time when they should feel supported by the State. Practical recommendations include the establishment of a dedicated website on end of life services offered by the State and the introduction of a bereavement services helpline which would inform people of the steps they need to take following a bereavement and their rights and entitlements.

The report also recommends adopting a planning tool developed by the Irish Hospice Foundation, known as Think Ahead, which allows people to make preparations for their future care and to put their affairs in order. Many of these recommendations are straightforward, common-sense and useful measures that should be examined by Government and introduced where possible. Apart from the general overarching proposals, the report also makes specific recommendations for each Department. It is a tremendous starting point for discussion, consideration and debate.

Recommendations relevant to the Department of Social Protection include ensuring staff receive ongoing communications skills training. There have been significant improvements in the provision of staff training in recent years. My Department currently provides a customer service course to its staff that emphasises the Civil Service code of conduct, including dealing with customers sympathetically, efficiently and promptly. The course also emphasises best practice in communications skills. This is particularly beneficial for front-line staff dealing with end of life issues, including bereavement. All new entrants to the Department receive this programme and customer service training was also provided to front-line staff as part of the suite of training delivered during the roll-out of the Intreo service.

The report recommends that the Department consider introducing a service similar to the Tell Us Once service in place in the United Kingdom, whereby a bereaved person tells one point of contact on the death of a loved one and this information is disseminated to other departments. In my Department, when a date of death is recorded by one area of the Department, including the General Register Office, this information is disseminated within the Department via notifications through various information technology platforms. While this approach does not currently extend to other Departments or local authorities, this option could certainly be explored.

I draw attention to the citizens information website operated by an agency of my Department, the Citizens Information Board. The website includes a section on death and bereavement and provides information on the steps to be taken immediately following a death, registering a death, how to access income supports and legal issues that may arise. It is an excellent source of practical information. It also includes material on planning in terms of making a will, advance health directives and links to the Irish Hospice Foundation's Think Ahead tool, as well as general information on the State services available.

The two main recommendations for my Department are to reinstate the bereavement grant, which was abolished in 2014, and to increase the living alone allowance. The programme for Government includes a commitment to increase the living alone allowance. In this regard, a €2 increase in the allowance, from €9 per week to €11 per week, paid to pensioners and people with disabilities who live alone would cost €21 million. Introducing a once-off €850 bereavement grant would cost €25 million. As I am sure Senators will appreciate, there are many competing demands in the run-up to the budget between programme for Government commitments, my personal priorities, various pre-budget submissions and ensuring the social impact of the budget measures we introduce helps the most vulnerable. This does not mean anything has been ruled out. The bereavement grant is an issue that is consistently raised in my office, as I expect it is frequently raised with Senators. It was one of the first issues I inquired about on my appointment. The Department, through community welfare officers, continues to pay an average of €2,000 to people who present seeking assistance with bereavement costs. No one will be turned away.

Many of the recommendations in the report relate to other Departments. I am sure other Ministers and their officials will examine the recommendations relevant to their Departments and give them as much consideration as I am giving those that pertain to my Department. In conclusion, I thank Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell for her time, effort and most particularly for her commitment to this issue. As anybody who knows her will attest she is eloquent in her description of things. Her passion for this topic knows no beginning and no end. She is really committed to the issue. One can see that every time she stands up to speak. I pay particular tribute to her for the amount of work she has done. I thank her for the huge service that she has done for us in providing us with this report and to ensure that Government takes it seriously and that we will all act on the recommendations in so far as Government finances allow.