Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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247. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if contributions records requested by Deputies on behalf of persons who have no broadband or who are not familiar with computers will continue to issue to persons in the interest of equality and fairness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47391/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department is committed to providing a contribution record statement to all customers who require one and will provide this in written copy by phone request in the case of customers who are not in a position to use the online facility. However, the main facility for accessing social insurance contribution statements is now online, via the MyWelfare.ie application. This service was introduced on 27 January 2017; and details of how to register are available at: .

The online application has been designed to ensure that all customers can access their records directly and conveniently; and do so in a much shorter timeframe than was previously possible. Registering for MyWelfare.ie also enables a customer to apply online for payments including jobseeker's and maternity/paternity benefit; to close claims for payments, to make appointments, view claims and benefits information; update their address and to request payment statements.

Some 800/850 customers per week currently engage successfully with the service to request copies of their record; and this number is increasing on a month-by-month basis.

The new service is an efficient and secure service and also allows for the automated processing of requests, which as you will understand, allows the Department to concentrate its resources on maintaining and updating social insurance records for customers.

As set out at the outset, any customer who has a difficulty engaging with the MyWelfare service can contact the Department’s customer service team on 1890 690 690 or 01 4715898 for assistance. The customer service team is available to assist from 9am to 5pm and is also open during lunchtime.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.