Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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20. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding illness benefit sick certification, in order to make the processing of applications more efficient (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35396/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department of Social Protection issued two press releases (which were also posted on the department’s website at ) outlining the contingency arrangements which were put in place during the recent of interruption of postal services. These arrangements were carried extensively across all news media.

Customers can leave medical certificates, claim forms and application forms for all other social welfare payments into any Intreo/social welfare local office or branch office.

Medical certificates are legal documents and the original must be supplied to the Department. Out of an average of 1.6m million weekly social welfare payments, only 73,200 are cheque

Payments – 5,000 of these are illness benefit customers. A review is being undertaken of the contingency plan for the delivery of post in the event of a future interruption to postal

services. The costs involved will be part of such a review.