02 April 2008

Justice

Child Benefit Section

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether the unit that deals with European economic area and European Union queries within the child benefit section of his Department in Letterkenny, County Donegal is adequately staffed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Cullen):

EU nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families remain in their home country may have an entitlement to family benefits, eg Child Benefit, in Ireland under EU Regulation 1408/71.

Since 2005 the number of claims in respect of non-resident children of EU nationals has increased significantly. This influx has resulted in delays in finalizing claims. A number of measures has been taken to streamline and improve the processing of EU claims, amongst them being increases in the numbers of staff working in the unit. In September 2007, 10 additional staff were assigned to the area on a temporary basis. A review of processes in the unit has recently been concluded and further additional resources are to be assigned, bringing the staffing level including both permanent and temporary staff to some 47 posts (compared to 19 in 2005). Included in the staff assigned to the unit are 3 native Polish speakers working on temporary contracts.

The increase in staff numbers, coupled with the judicious use of overtime and the implementation of a number of other process improvements, will result in an improvement in the work of the unit during 2008.