Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent of information packages on welfare entitlements available in all the foreign languages of the principal migrant communities residing here. [37662/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I am very conscious of the increasing number of social welfare customers requiring access to services for whom English is not their first language or where their English is not of a high standard. Every effort is made by my Department to facilitate these customers by providing relevant information in a number of languages on the Department's website and by arranging an interpretation service as necessary.

In 2005, the main Guide to Social Welfare Services (SW4) was made available on my Department's website www.welfare.ie in Arabic, Chinese, French, Polish, Spanish and Russian, in addition to English and Irish. It is currently being translated into Romanian. This is a very extensive guide which provides details on all entitlements available from my Department.

For the majority of migrants their first point of contact with my Department is to request a Personal Public Service (PPS) number. This is a unique personal reference number that is required for transactions between individuals and Government Departments as well as other public bodies specified in the Social Welfare Acts.

When applying for a PPS number, applicants are required to complete an application form and provide documentary photographic evidence of identity and evidence of address. This application form, as well as being available in Irish and English, is available in Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish. The availability of the form in these languages enables applicants from all EU member states, as well as those from China and Russia to complete the PPS number application form in their native language.

An examination of PPS numbers issued in 2005 showed that nationals from these countries comprised just over 85% of the total applications received in 2005. The requirements for additional language options are constantly reviewed.

Officials of my Department and in particular, frontline staff in local offices, make every effort to assist people who have language difficulties or if they need help in completing forms. If there are particular difficulties communicating with an individual an interpreter can be arranged to be available by appointment.

Plans have been prepared for interpreters with proficiency in a number of languages to be present on certain days in Social Welfare Local Offices which provide services to large numbers of customers who experience difficulties communicating with staff. Initially this will be implemented in two offices and the operation of this service will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis. If it is considered necessary this interpretation service will be extended to other offices as required.

Comhairle, the citizens information board is responsible for the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy in relation to social services. It has funded various initiatives including the production of leaflets in foreign languages by organisations such as the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU). Two such leaflets, Looking for Work in Ireland and Welfare Rights: What you need to know when you become unemployed in Ireland, are available in Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian and Russian.

My Department has also provided funding to the Immigrant Council of Ireland to produce fact-sheets with information on rights and entitlements of immigrants to Ireland. These fact sheets are available in six languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Romanian, Russian and English). There is a link from the Department website to the Immigrant Council website where these fact sheets are available.

My Department is participating in the Eulisses project. This project will provide a multilingual website, pooling social security information for migrants from national and European sources. This will provide a single internet access point for Europeans who are seeking social security information. Work is ongoing on this website at present and its first phase, dealing with pensions, is expected to be on-line before the end of 2006. My Department will continue to enhance its services in the most appropriate manner to ensure that migrant workers are aware of their rights and entitlements.