Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will confirm the length of time social welfare payments will be valid for under the proposed new payment type scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12105/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The current range of payment options offered by my Department to customers includes payment at a local post office or to a bank or building society account; or certain credit unions that have been authorised by the banking and credit union regulators. Customers opt for a particular payment method having regard to their own personal circumstances. The Department is implementing a three year strategy to move from paper based payment instruments to payment using a social services card at post offices and electronic payments to financial institutions. The programme is being implemented on a phased basis to coincide with book renewal production schedules and as personalised payable order books expire.

Customers who collect their payment at a post office will present their Social Services Card and sign for their payment in the normal way. Payments can be collected up to 60 days after the due date in the case of pensioners and up to 100 days for child benefit recipients. Certain other customers have 20 days to collect their payment which is considered to be the optimum time for collection of a weekly means based payment. After these times the payments go out of date and are returned to the Department. Where a payment is not collected in time the Department can be contacted and a replacement payment made as appropriate.

The following grid sets out the collection periods for schemes administered by my Department.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the issues that emerged from the review of guardian's payment; the way these are being worked through at present with other Departments; the main conclusions reached; and the changes to the scheme that will result from this review. [12199/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Guardians' payment schemes allow for the provision of a weekly allowance to a guardian of a child who has either been orphaned or whose parents have deserted and failed to provide for the child. The review of the Guardian's payment within my Department commenced in late 2006 and involved a detailed analysis of a large sample of guardian's payment files.

Issues emerging from the review include the structure of the scheme, administration issues in relation to the application of criteria and the need for closer co-ordination with the Health Service Executive in relation to child protection issues. These issues are being progressed in my Department and with the relevant officials from the Department of Health & Children. I expect that proposals for improving the scheme will be forthcoming later this year.