Niamh Smyth
Cavan-Monaghan · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I thank Senator Higgins for speaking to this amendment and Senator Stephenson for putting it forward. I fully agree on the importance of co-operation and co-ordination between competent authorities in the implementation and enforcement of the AI Act.”
“63 would reduce the current period of 14 working days to a period of no more than seven days. The purpose of section 49 is to balance regulatory intervention with fair procedures.”
“I am going to take time after this debate to look at the Instagram account the Deputy raised today to see for myself. I do not disbelieve the Deputy. It upsets me so much to see that is allowed. Where is the monitoring of it?”
“These are: prohibited practices under Article 5; serious incidents reported under Article 73; high-risk AI systems referred to in annexe III in accordance with Article 49(5); and any other AI-related incidents or notifications required to be reported under the regulation.”
“The Government will continue to benefit from the expertise of the office in the deployment and implementation of AI-related policy and regulation.”
“I know that when you go to public meetings like those in question, there are tough stories from parents and you may feel a little inadequate sometimes in being able to deal with these things as quickly as possible. I am glad the Deputies used their time here today to make the presentation and to campaign for the parents.”
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“My intention is to ensure the AI tools and digitalisation supports we will provide through the Department of enterprise will support businesses and give them the backup they need. I would argue that businesses always go through uncertain times. We are going through a different uncertainty now.”
“At any forum I sit at, and we have spoken about the cost of doing business forum, I will ensure, and the Minister has agreed to do this, that smaller enterprises and their representatives are at all of the tables. Senator O'Loughlin spoke about digitalisation and AI. For me, the real opportunity for businesses is to take out the mundane repetitive piece to allow them to see what they can do or how they can give themselves more time to reflect, imagine and promote their businesses. We all know, as people who are part of these businesses or who are a cog in a very big wheel, time is so precious. When people are running their own business they have to be HR, the person who creates the timetable and the person who places the order for the goods to come in, and they have to be there to make sure returns are done.”
“There is also IDA Ireland. We often feel that rural constituencies are forgotten compared with the more urban centres, and this can be true, but in my role I will certainly do everything I can to ensure we support and provide access and, more importantly, that we listen, as I am doing here today, to what the concerns are. I can tell Senators quite honestly that in the few short months since I have gone into the Department the Minister, Deputy Burke, has been relentless. I do not just say this; people can look at his diary. He has been relentless in holding forums with business people, with RGDATA and the Family Business Network. Yes, the big businesses are there too but the smaller ones definitely have a voice at those tables.”
“It is heartening to go in and see it. I know exactly what it takes. I assure Senators that while I am in the Department I will do everything possible to take out the burdensome paperwork, drudgery and repetitiveness that can be there. I am very lucky in the work I have on trade promotion, as Senator O'Loughlin has said, as it is a great opportunity for me to represent Ireland globally and I will do so in any way I can. I am always struck by the work done by Enterprise Ireland. I have to say until I was in the Department I did not realise we had 42 Enterprise Ireland offices throughout the world. They are out there kicking down doors for Irish businesses and services. The connections and collaborations they create with businesses abroad are incredible.”
“In my role in the Department of enterprise I had the good fortune on Sunday of spending some time in Senator Keogan's brother's restaurant and bar, which is the Imperial Bar in Cavan town. It was father's day and we were coming back from the Cavan game in Enniskillen. We went into the Imperial Bar on the way home. It is an example of being the heart of a town, in this case Cavan town. Many businesses on our main streets are dependent on other anchor businesses. Perhaps they are not considered small but without the likes of that business in the heart of Cavan town other businesses would not flourish. They bring football to the town, whether it is day or night. One thing I can say about Donal Keogan is that he is a wonderful man reimagining his business. It is one of those places that is full every day of the week.”
“Managing to survive and perhaps have a second generation of the family come on and grow up in the business - sometimes they do not have an option other than staying in the business because it is all they know - is a large accolade for the people who take it on. As has been said today, it is not as it is for those who walk into work at 9 a.m. and leave at 5 p.m. People who own their own business, as has been quite rightly said, wake up in the morning thinking about it and go to bed at night thinking about it. There is no such thing as walking away for 20 days' holidays or seven days' holidays. There is nobody to ring if somebody feels sick. They have to do all of this themselves. I have great admiration for anybody who takes it on.”
“It is a real pleasure to be in here with the Senators today and I thank them most sincerely. I could not agree more with everything said by all who have spoken and with the sentiments that have been expressed here today. My background is that I grew up through an SME. My mam happens to be in the Gallery and she has a very small business in Slane in County Meath. I grew up packing shelves, sweeping floors and doing all of the graft that has to be done. I completely sympathise and understand the challenges and difficulties in succeeding. To continue in business is a real success. Not everybody has this opportunity. Some people have to diversify or reimagine how they do their business.”
“We have to be factual about these cases when we talk about them. As I said, the Minister, Peter Burke, is keeping a close eye on this. The work of IDA Ireland is incredible. It has worked closely with Wellman International and the representatives there over the past two years. The Government has not kept pouring money into a company that was failing. It has worked closely with IDA Ireland to ensure the latter provided whatever supports it could to make sure that Wellman International did not go out of business and to look at the idea of rescaling the business. I assure the Senator that I am liaising not only with officials in my Department, but also officials in IDA Ireland who are liaising with Wellman International. I will continue to do that and to liaise closely with workers and management in Wellman International.”
“I welcome the visitors in the Gallery. I have no doubt that some people in the Oldcastle area are affected by the sad news about Wellman International. I have been in touch and have been very active. Let us be clear. I am not paying platitudes to anyone, as I feel strongly about these people. I represent them. I was elected to do so and I will certainly do that. I have met them and am meeting them. On a daily basis, I am in touch with workers and their representatives. The Senator can be assured of that. I have also written to the Department of Social Protection and the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and asked him to set up a working group in his Department to ensure that the necessary supports are put in place, if it comes to that. I hope it will not, but it is inevitable that a certain number of jobs will be lost.”
“Furthermore, the Government provides a range of supports to employees facing job losses. The Intreo services of the Department of Social Protection can assist with income supports and relevant employment and training opportunities where needed. I would like to talk about this in more positive terms. I hope that the examinership process provides a viable proposition for a new buyer to come in. I am sorry. I did not realise I was over my time. I will revert further.”
“However, Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation in place to protect and support workers where collective redundancies are proposed by an employer. The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes certain legal obligations in these situations, including the requirement to consult and provide information to employee representatives for a 30-day period before any notice of redundancy can issue. The consultation with employee representatives should include the possibility of avoiding the proposed redundancies, reducing the number of employees affected or mitigating the consequences. The proposed collective redundancy must also be notified to the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment at least 30 days before the first dismissal takes place.”
“The foremost concern of the Minister, Deputy Burke, and the Government is the potential impact on employees and their families during this difficult and uncertain time. As I said at the outset, I have spoken to quite a number of them since this announcement was made. People who are coming towards the end of their working careers are concerned about their pensions. There are second generations of some families working in Wellman International who have much younger families. They are also concerned about where their income will come from in the future. I can confirm that the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment received collective redundancy notifications from Wellman International Limited on 6 June, details of which are for the company to disclose.”
“It is very sad to hear this announcement but we have to deal with reality. The company went into an examinership process on 3 June. That process is overseen by a court. The company is placed under court protection for a period of time to allow for the potential rescue and return to financial health of the company, which may be in severe financial difficulty, potentially securing its viability. It is incredibly important to say that this examinership process always looks for ways to protect jobs and the company, ensuring its viability into the future. That is the way we need to continue to talk about Wellman International. We must talk about it as something we hope will be there long into the future.”
“This is a highly important issue that affects not just east Cavan but also Meath, Monaghan and the entire community of Mullagh. I contend that way more than 217 people will be affected by this. In addition to the workers themselves, there are ancillary staff, canteen staff and many outside companies that provide services and look after machinery in the facility. I have been in regular contact with the staff within Wellman over recent days following this really shocking announcement. This is devastating to say the least. Families and workers have felt this coming for some time. I have relatives who work there and who raised families while doing so. Over the 50 years they spent in Wellman, the company demonstrated great loyalty to the staff employed in it, the community of Mullagh and way beyond.”
“I am confident this will address many of the issues of concern to the Opposition in a sustainable way, and I am firmly of the belief that this is the best way to support collective bargaining, businesses and workers in resolving issues of mutual interest.”
“We have also seen further developments across government, including the implementation of the EU pay transparency directive and the introduction of a pensions auto-enrolment system, which is also a programme for Government commitment and a key priority for the Minister for Social Protection. This Government is committed to strengthening and protecting working conditions, fair treatment and fair wages for workers, and supporting businesses in addressing the challenges the enterprise sector is facing. The Government will finalise an action plan on collective bargaining by the end of this year, following the consultation process currently under way and in consultation with the social partners.”
“In 2025, we established a new employment law review group to look at issues such as unfair dismissals; provided that the statutory protection of the Organisation of Working Time Act is now applied to members of the Defence Forces; concluded a public consultation on extending the late working hours exemption for young persons to unlicensed premises - feedback from the consultation will guide our understanding of current working conditions for young people in both licensed and unlicensed workplaces; and advanced legislation to protect older workers with a contractual retirement age below the State pension age.”
“These include a new bank holiday in February; placing sick pay on a statutory basis; legislation on tips and gratuities; substantial increases in the minimum wage; enhanced protection for employees facing collective redundancies due to insolvency; legislation to provide the right to request remote working; and improvements to the employment permit system.”
“Additionally, the Workplace Relations Commission’s code of practice on victimisation refers specifically to "victimisation arising from an employee’s membership or non-membership, activity or non-activity on behalf of a trade union" in specific circumstances, including situations where there are no negotiating arrangements and where collective bargaining has not taken place. A complaint under the code may be made to the Workplace Relations Commission under the Industrial Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, providing for up to two years' remuneration in compensation. I will highlight the many positive and progressive changes to workers’ rights the Government has introduced in recent years, resulting in significantly improved working conditions for workers.”
“The freedom of association and the right to organise and bargain collectively, as set out in Article 40 of the Constitution, are also guaranteed in a number of international instruments the State has ratified and which it is, therefore, bound to uphold under international law. The Government continues to fully support the right of any worker to join and be active in his or her trade union. Under the Unfair Dismissals Act, an employee cannot be discriminated against or dismissed because he or she is a member of a trade union.”
“I thank all Deputies for some of the very strongly held views expressed on this particular topic. The Government is fully committed to supporting workers and employers and delivering further supports for collective bargaining this year, following the public consultation. However, the Bill as proposed would leave the resultant legislation open to the possibility of legal challenge as regards an employer’s right not to engage with or recognise trade unions. Ireland’s system of industrial relations is voluntary in nature. The approach set out in the Bill would undermine the voluntarist approach to industrial relations that has existed down through the decades. Our industrial relations legislation offers robust protections to trade unions to allow them to go about their business of protecting workers’ rights.”
“It would allow them to take stock of what a family is suffering and give the family the adequate support they need in a timely fashion, meaning we all win.”
“The Senator can share the details with me, but I encourage her to share them with Minister, Dara Calleary. I will convey to the Minister the thoughts, views and, more importantly, the sentiments of what the Senator has put forward in her argument. I know that if the Minister can do anything on an individual basis for that family, he will try to ensure that their case is expedited as quickly as possible. We have a big opportunity within the public service to create efficiencies. I have no doubt that all of the officials who deal with these applications are buried in paperwork. If digitalisation and AI can remove the drudgery of that work, it would allow officials to adopt a human-centred approach to these applications when they consider them.”
“Those filling in application forms are so busy with the day-to-day running of their homes and taking care of their loved ones that they do not have the time for it. For many applications there is a formula which ordinary people do not know and are not familiar with as they do not complete them every day. This does not make it very helpful. Where new information, in particular medical information, is provided on appeal, it may require further investigation which can add to the time taken in the appeals process.”
“Senator Collins has pointed out that the family has not even had this initial contact. Where, in the first instance, a decision is not made in favour of the applicant, an appeal is considered by an appeals officer, which may require holding an oral hearing. A significant proportion of cases are revised by the Department in favour of the applicant during the review process. This does not always mean the initial decision was incorrect. A decision can be revised because the person making the application or the appeal provided additional information not made available when the decision was first made. This is the benefit of the oral hearings when families go before an appeals officer to speak about their day-to-day life experiences.”
“I am aware of the domiciliary care allowance, the relief it can bring families, the importance of the support and the reassurance of having it in the future. There is much involved in the particular case Senator Collins described and great support is required by the parents of the little girl to do the normal everyday things in life. They should have this peace of mind. I always say that if politicians do not receive a good answer, they should still go back and tell people as this also causes frustration. The time given to process an appeal is for all aspects of the appeals process, including initial validation of the appeal to ensure adequate grounds have been provided, following referral of the appeal to the relevant scheme in the Department for review.”
“As Minister of State I will support the Department of the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and other Departments in introducing measures in order that we can get the efficiencies Senator Collins has quite rightly raised and, more importantly, which families deserve. I ask Senator Collins to bear with me as I give her the official answer. The social welfare appeals office is an office in the Department of Social Protection responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements. Appeals officers are independent in their decision-making functions. At the end of March 2025, the overall average processing time for all appeals was 20.9 weeks and the average processing time for a domiciliary care allowance appeal was 19.6 weeks. This is half of the actual life experience of the family Senator Collins spoke about.”
“It is not acceptable and we have to do whatever we can to support public bodies and public agencies to bring in technology. I believe there is a much faster and more efficient way, which would not take away the human-centred approach but would cut through the analysis of an application, which can be very repetitive. I would like to see us have the ability to take the drudgery out of the work for our officials and be able to get to the bottom line and the answer for families. Not having a response or not being told an officer has been appointed to a case should be relatively easy to deal with, to give parents and families a response, a pathway and a timeline. This is a very fair expectation to have.”
“I thank the Senator very much. As she is well aware, I am not the Minister for Social Protection, but I am the Minister of State with responsibility for AI and digitalisation. I tell her wholeheartedly that if I achieve anything over the next five years, it will be to bring efficiencies into our public services and public bodies so parents and families are not left forgotten or "invisible", as was said. We must bring in the technology to enable staff to get through the backlogs we hear so much about. In the script, which, as Senator Collins knows, was prepared by officials in the Department, I am told the wait is 20 weeks, but Senator Collins has given an exact personal account of a family that has been waiting 37 weeks.”
“Partnerships between people who have lived experiences and the agencies and the HSE always deliver the best outcomes. As I said, it can be arduous, slow and deeply frustrating. I encourage the Senator not to lose heart and faith. Politicians in the Upper House and the Lower House will try to pursue the Departments to ensure they are proactive, progress solutions and deliver the outcomes the Senator has requested.”
“I again thank the Senator. I will convey his sentiments to the Minister, Deputy Foley, and encourage her to visit the site if she has not already done so. I will tell her that an invitation has been extended. The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to improving disability services and ensuring that people with disabilities and their families receive the necessary support. By implementing strategic policies, increasing financial investment and fostering a cross-departmental approach, the Department aims to build an inclusive society where everybody has equal opportunities to thrive. Organisations such as Teach an Saol are invaluable to the disability sector. I do not say that lightly. I say it because I believe it. I see it on the ground in my own constituency.”
“Regular assessments involving clients and their families have been introduced. In addition, a stakeholder working group has been set up to drive progress. An Saol has also deepened its partnerships with international academic institutions and centres of excellence while exploring collaboration opportunities with other brain injury services. While some actions remain contingent on funding, such as expanding multidisciplinary services and formalising links with community health structures, the foundation has continued to progress implementation within existing resources. The bell means I must conclude, and the Senator may wish to respond.”
“A clinical evaluation of the service provided by the An Saol Foundation was undertaken in February 2023. A review and recommendations report was subsequently published by the clinical lead for disability and the national clinical programme for people with disability, in the HSE. The review made 12 strategic recommendations to guide the development and expansion of services. The Senator referred to these. Since the publication of the report, meaningful progress has been made on many of the recommendations. The Senator will be able to say whether that progress has been meaningful when I conclude. A clinical advisory committee has now been established to support the clinical team and contribute to broader clinical governance. The development of more objective and measurable admissions and review criteria has commenced.”
“I realise that, for those on the ground driving these projects, that process can be slow and arduous, but these types of community group and charity projects that engage with the HSE are the most fruitful of all, having a targeted approach and being the eyes and ears on the ground as to the types of service needed. While patience is required, determination always wins out. I commend the Schäler family on theirs. The necessary stages include progressing the project through the approvals process for both the property acquisition and the capital funding. It is important to note all new capital projects are subject to the national HSE approval processes, which in turn are informed by the Government’s national infrastructure guidelines. Projects are also subject to prioritisation within available resources.”
“The HSE has advised me that progress is being made on securing a site for the proposed project and an application for planning permission has been lodged. The HSE has prioritised funding for the site purchase and initial design costs, allocating almost €1.3 million through the capital allocation process. Subject to the timely receipt of all required documentation, the HSE anticipates this project will continue to progress smoothly through the necessary stages of approval and development. The HSE is working with An Saol to advise on the requirements that need to be met at each step of the process.”
“It must be noted that continued cross-Government engagement will be a critical component of the success of this campaign. A senior and dedicated lead within the HSE has been appointed to lead the development of a multi-annual infrastructural strategy for the disability sector and to ensure that there is a strategic, directed growth in investment and the delivery of capital projects. The An Saol Foundation was established by the family the Cathaoirleach kindly welcomed, and it is lovely to see Pádraig and Reinhard Schäler. I thank them for being here. The HSE capital and estates section is engaging with An Saol Foundation at a local level in order to assist in progressing the latter's capital project proposal.”
“This is a significant achievement and reflects the Government's strong commitment to supporting people with disabilities, as set out in the 2025 programme for Government. It also signals our determination to realise the full ambition of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Investment alone is not enough, but it is the foundation for progress. The disability action plan has ambitious three-year targets for increasing residential placement capacity, accelerating the rate of decongregation, and providing new day service places. While meeting these targets will be dependent on increasing staffing complements within services, providing the necessary capital infrastructure will be of importance also. Independent living and housing will be a major feature of the next national disability strategy.”
“I thank the Senator for his question and warmly welcome the family who are here today to keep the campaign going for what is a very good cause. The An Saol Foundation does really great work. I thank Senator McCarthy for raising this very important issue and for offering me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Foley. Unfortunately, she is in the Dáil Chamber as we speak and could not be here. I am here on her behalf. In budget 2025, €27 million was allocated for capital projects for disability services. I realise that the crux of the Senator's question is the capital spend. This represents an increase of €4 million on 2024. Under the transfer of functions agreement and in line with the national development plan, this is due to grow to €29.2 million in 2026.”
“I wish the Deputy well in advocating for Cabra and as I said, throwing his weight behind it and standing up for the community there I am sure will go a long way in ensuring it gets its family resource centre.”
“There is even a community shop there along with educational services and many wrap-around services as well as after-school services. If there are any new ideas, the centre is doing it. I encourage the Deputy's group in Cabra to go to Monaghan and have a chat with the centre there. It has been on the go for 20 years so it has hit all the loopholes and different challenges. For community groups to get something like this up and running is not easy but as the Deputy said himself - and I am telling him here tonight - there is a great opportunity with the scheme just newly opened and money set aside and ring-fenced for it. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has her heart and soul behind these centres because there is one in her own community too. She feels very strongly for them and I am sure if she could roll out ten in one year, she would.”
“The Deputy is right in what he said that they can be the heart and soul and can be designed in such a way that they really respond to the nuances of a community, because communities' needs are not always the same. It is a real opportunity when a new application process is opened. The Deputy is well entitled to stand here and advocate for the Cabra centre, especially when, as he said himself, it will be highly competitive. Cabra is as deserving as anywhere else in the country. The Deputy is right that these will have to be backed up. I am sure Department officials will look at all the applications, facts, deprivation, needs and perhaps new communities living in the area. All that must be taken into account. Teach Na nDaoine in Monaghan town is another exemplar, if I was to use one, for what it can achieve.”
“It is important to acknowledge all of these entities that offer continuing support to the FRC network and acknowledge the work done by the staff and boards of management of individual centres. Any support the Deputy can give by being on the management committee or steering committee certainly gives it weight and emphasis. It helps to drive it on and, one would hope, to make the application a success when it goes through the process and analysis. I wish the Deputy luck with the community. I will certainly express his sentiments to the Minister, Deputy Foley, and I am sure it will be a successful application.”
“It is a game-changer and it helps to focus people's minds on what the needs are. It will make it a personalised service and function for the local community in Cabra. The commissioning unit of Tusla is managing the application and selection process, with five new family resource centres expected to become operational later this year, all of which are core funded by the Department. It is important to note that core funding is only one element of funding that family resource centres can avail of. Core funding comes from the Department and is administered by Tusla, but many family resource centres obtain other sources of funding under various Departments, State agencies and private sources. This allows them to expand the scope and reach of their services and to tailor those services to the needs of their communities.”
“That was to establish details of the application process related to the planned expansion of the family resource centre, FRC, programme. As part of a range of measures aimed at reducing childhood poverty, the current programme for Government commits to work to increase funding and expand the capacity and network of FRCs. Regarding FRC programme expansion, the Minister's Department secured funding in budget 2025 for five additional FRCs. I am delighted that on Thursday, 1 May, the opening of the application process was announced by Tusla and welcomed by the Minister, Deputy Foley. This is an open call for groups and organisations to apply for FRC programme membership. I am sure the community group the Deputy is talking about is mobilised by the fact there is an open process now.”
“I wholeheartedly support the Deputy's campaign for this for Cabra. The Minister, Deputy Foley, sends her apologies. She would like to be here herself but she was in the House earlier today and has a prior engagement this evening. I will pass on the Deputy's sentiment to her. I am pleased the family resource centre programme is expanding. We see that throughout the country. I think everyone will agree it is a very welcome development in the programme for Government for the member organisations and the communities the new family resource centres will serve. While I do not have specific details about each application, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has been in contact with a representative of a subcommittee of the Cabra child and family support network, which would say to me that things are happening and beginning to move.”
“I thank Deputy Gannon for raising this issue this evening. Cabra, like every other community in the country, is as entitled to it as anywhere else. I have the lived experience of the benefits of a family resource centre in my community in Bailieborough. Many moons ago, a community got together and established it in a housing estate in Bailieborough called Drumbannon. I had the privilege of starting my teaching career there, interacting with the young people in the area and interacting with the families. The service, provision, support and assistance they can give families is hugely valuable. When you see it working in a community and the benefits of it, you realise how important it is. Deputy Gannon described it well - as an anchor. It is a basis for a community and somewhere to go to.”
“One of the other points raised was that we have a huge shortage of skilled workers, of people with experience. It is a big opportunity to keep people who want to continue to work. "Want" being the important word. This Bill goes a long way in achieving that. I thank all of the Members for their contributions as well as the Ceann Comhairle.”
“It will facilitate any worker who wants to continue in employment until they first access the State pension. It will also make necessary the provision for limited cases where a lower retirement age may be required. It is a positive step in improving adequacy of income for older workers and reaffirms all our outstanding policy to encourage and support longer and fuller working lives. I acknowledge two other points that were raised by Deputy Mattie McGrath around the personal assistants. I wholeheartedly support everything he and others have raised today about those particular workers especially. They deserve the recognition and the State supports those in every other walk of life get, particularly in our education and training boards, ETBs, and further education.”
“I do not know if that answers Deputy Lawless but I will ask the officials again to respond to him specifically on that. The Bill implements the recommendations of the Pensions Commission on the matters of contractual retirement ages. It implements a recommendation that has been the subject of substantial debate, public discourse, research, analysis and consultation involving all relevant stakeholders. In addition to the Pensions Commission's public consultation process and stakeholder forum, this proposal was discussed extensively at meetings of the labour, economic and employment forum, and officials separately held a number of meetings with key stakeholders. That will put everyone's mind at ease in today's debate. I am satisfied that the Bill we are discussing here today is a robust and well balanced legislative provision.”
“I thank everyone who has contributed in such a meaningful way to the debate this evening. There were some technical issues raised by Deputy Barry Ward. I will ask the officials in the Department to go back to him directly. His remarks were quite technical. I have some notes here but since he is not in the Chamber himself, it would be important and useful if the officials could revert to him directly. Directly Lawless raised some issues on gender and I am ably assisted by the Department here with a note to say that it is not in the scope of this Bill. We would address the carers and PRSI contributions can be claimed from the Department of Social Protection and can be a significant benefit for the contributory State pension.”