Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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72. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount of unclaimed social protection entitlements that persons are entitled to claim but for whatever reason do not claim. [2774/17]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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83. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to publicise or launch campaigns to ensure persons are fully aware of their entitlements to social protection payments in various circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2775/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 83 together.

The Department’s Customer Charter and Action Plan 2016-2018 sets out the level of service customers can expect when dealing with the Department, including a commitment to providing clear, accurate and comprehensive information.

Whilst the Department does not gather information on the amount of unclaimed social welfare entitlements, it makes every effort to ensure that anyone who has an entitlement, and wishes to submit an application form, may do so.

The Department’s website, , is the central repository of information on all of the Department’s schemes and services, and is complemented by telephone contact centres and enquiry facilities should a person wish to enquire about their potential entitlement.

The national network of Citizen Information Services also provides key advice, information and assistance to customers seeking such on my Department’s schemes.

In addition, the Department holds regular meetings with customer representative groups, which are used as a mean of communicating new information of schemes, as well as providing an opportunity to consult and receive feedback on proposed communication strategies, in order to maximise the effectiveness of those strategies for my Department’s customers. For example, in 2016, I launched a public awareness campaign to highlight the availability of the Paternity Benefit scheme in order that members of the public, who may not have previously been customers of the Department, were made aware of the availability of the scheme.

The Department is currently reviewing its communications strategy with a view to ensuring that customers are aware of the types of assistance available to them depending on their circumstances.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.