Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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262. To ask the Minister for Social Protection how many letters were sent to social welfare recipients in 2014 offering them the possibility of having their payment lodged directly into a bank account or building society account; how many such letters issued in 2013; how such recipients were selected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14805/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department does not compile statistics on the precise nature of letters issued to clients. Revised arrangements were announced as part of Budget 2014 to apply to older jobseeking clients. The measures provide for these clients to continue to avail of Departmental supports on a voluntary basis should they wish to return to work, training or education. In addition, provision is made for these clients to receive their payments directly into an account in a financial institution if they so wish. I understand that some 17,000 letters were issued to such clients between late 2013 to date. These letters, which were issued predominantly in 2014, are designed to ease the transition from working age to retirement. Some additional one hundred clients in receipt of rent supplement, who already receive their primary income support by EFT, were contacted advising them of the option to have the rent payment paid directly into an account. The Department does not maintain statistics on the total number of clients who took up this option.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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263. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the statutory basis for the requirement to sign on at a social welfare office. [14806/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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For jobseeker's benefit, the requirement to prove unemployment is contained in Section 62(1)(b) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The prescribed manner of proving unemployment is contained in Article 52 of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2007. For jobseeker's allowance, the requirement to prove unemployment is contained in Section 141(1)(b) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, for which the prescribed manner of proving unemployment is contained in Article 118 of SI 142 of 2007.

Signing may take the form of attending the office to sign a declaration, either electronically or in paper format, or it may require the completion of a docket containing the declaration for return to the office. The frequency of signing can vary for operational reasons or where the person is engaged in training, education or an internship etc.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)
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264. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to announce a tendering process for social welfare payments by electronic funds transfers. [14807/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The processing of electronic fund transfers (EFTs) is currently carried out through the Department's primary bankers with no plans in the short term to go to the market to advertise a new procurement for these services. The Deputy may be interested to note that a request for information (RFI) was issued in January this year with a view to seeking information on potential approaches to electronic payment solutions and associated business processes and to inform any future public procurement of an electronic payment solution which may arise to supplement existing EFT and cash payment arrangements. The responses to the RFI are currently being analysed and the information gleaned from this exercise will then be used to draw conclusions on the future procurement proposals for an ePayment solution if required.