SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan
He said to renew the contract would be to “reward failure”.
Mr Durkan was speaking after an answer to an Assembly Question that he tabled which revealed that the Department for Communities (DfC) is considering extending the contract that was due to expire on July 31, 2021 for another two years.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The end of the contract with Capita was an opportunity for the Minister to instigate a new approach to PIP assessments, one that would subject applicants to arbitrary bureaucracy and cause them needless stress and worry.
“Instead, she seems prepared to give more public money to an organisation that has caused distress to people with disabilities.
“The then-Minister, Carál Ni Chuilín, stated last July that she intended to extend the contract, so any suggestion that Minister Hargey is ‘exploring’ this option – rather than having already made her mind up – is questionable.
“She has not made any indication that any plans have been made since July for another tender process to take place.
“The successful appeal rate of 63% is indicative of Capita’s failings: these issues are entrenched and unlikely to be resolved by the proposes review in the next six months.
“The Second Independent Review of the PIP Assessment by Marie Cavanagh made clear that the Department must be taking steps to move towards bringing assessments in-house.
“The Department’s plans to begin to include in-house assessments by 2023 is simply too slow.
“Extending this contract by another two years would reward Capita’s failure.
“People with disabilities applying for PIP are entitled to a competent process that upholds their dignity: another two years of Capita flies in the face of that objective.
“The Minister must commit not to extend the contract beyond 31 July 2020,” added Mr Durkan.
