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Or did whatever smartarse remark I wrote on the last child benefit form get someone's attention?

I got a letter today referring to my "recent correspondence" (that'd be the completed child benefit where do you live/immigration status/children's school or doctor form). In the section where it asks for my residency status, but does NOT give the option to tick a box for "Irish," I always have to tick "Other" and write that I'm, in fact Irish (I was not yet Irish when I first applied for CB nearly 7 years ago). Anyway, I usually write something like "I'm still Irish, just like the last ten times you asked."

I don't really find the form arduous to complete, and it bothers me less now that EVERYONE seems to get them - I was mainly annoyed when there was a presumption that non-Irish were somehow more likely to be fraudulently claiming benefits (mind you, if they can demonstrate that's true, I have no issue, but I suspect that hard data did not drive the policy of initially focusing on non-Irish). The design of the form itself, in not including a box to tick under "residency status" (or visa or immigration or whatever they call it), suggested this is really a form for foreigners.

So - after about five years of smart arse comments, I got a letter saying I could send them my original passport or naturalization certificate and they'd amend my record to show that I'm Irish. Am I the only one, or have they suddently figured out how to overwrite that field in their database?

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The little boy is 8
The littler girl is 3

I usually write similar comments. I put a big line through all the options, big capital writing saying STILL IRISH or some other variation. I also point out that the letter usually takes 7 days to get to us. I was born in Australia but otherwise Irish.

To answer your question, No, I didnt get a letter like that, but I wish they would send me one. Maybe with the next letter I will attach a copy of my passport.

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According to this, they will only accept original documents or a copy certified by a local garda or social welfare officer.

As if I'd send them my original passport! Can you imagine? It only took them six months from my initial application to determine I was eligible for child benefit - never mind that I had been living and working legally in Ireland for nearly nine years at that stage. I can just imagine them saying, "If you're really Irish, why do you want to leave?"

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The little boy is 8
The littler girl is 3