Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his Department's website is up-to-date; the frequency with which it is updated; if all press releases from his Department are posted on the website; if so the frequency with which they are posted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23440/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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One of the information channels used in delivering on the Department's information policy is the website, www.welfare.ie., which was first established in 1996. It contains information on all our schemes and services including publications, leaflets and booklets. Application forms are available for downloading and on-line services are available to customers notifying loss of employment, requesting an application form for child benefit and e-mailing our information services.

Each section in my Department is responsible for ensuring that the website content for their schemes is kept up to date. A central section, which manages the website, implements the requests for changes and updates from the scheme sections and these are implemented on a daily basis. Procedures are in place to ensure that website content is kept accurate and relevant and to remove all out-of-date material in a timely fashion. As an example of the timeliness of the content, press releases are posted on the website as soon as they are issued by the Department's press office.