asked the Minister for Local Government whether his sanction is required to the employment of or payment of particular salary scales to social workers by local authorities; whether his Department have expressed any views to local authorities on the desirability of employing such qualified officers; if his Department has any policy in the matter; and, if so, if he will enunciate it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Social Workers.
22.
My sanction is required by local authorities for the creation of posts of housing welfare officer and for variations of the salary scale applicable to that grade. Housing authorities generally were notified by my Department on 14th April, 1967, that I would be glad if authorities with large housing estates would consider, if they had not already done so, the question of appointing suitably qualified welfare officers to assist tenants in looking after their houses and their neighbourhood, to facilitate transfers and to give guidance generally on the housing policy of the authority. It was also pointed out to the authorities that proposals for the creation of such offices, where they do not already exist, will be considered sympathetically by me. Local authorities are also encouraged to employ social workers to assist in the rehabilitation of itinerants and a subsidy of 50 per cent is available towards the salaries and expenses of officers so employed.
Can the Minister say how many housing welfare officers have been approved by him and appointed, and how many social workers have been approved by him and appointed in respect of whom his Department is now paying 50 per cent subsidies?
How many have actually been appointed?
Yes.
I do not seem to have that information here. So far as the housing estate supervisory section of Dublin Corporation is concerned the authorised establishment is one housing estate supervisor, two superintending officers and eight housing welfare officers. I do not know how many of these posts have been filled.
That is in relation to housing welfare officers, but what about the social welfare officers in respect of whom the Minister says there is a 50 per cent subsidy payment?
I have not got that information here. I was not asked that. The Deputy should put down another question.
Would the Minister say why he is in a position to give me the information today or some of it which last week he said he did not have? Today he gives it by way of answer to a supplementary question.
The Deputy must have asked me a different question last week.
No, I asked him that last week, but now because I was able to establish from the Minister's first reply that he had responsibility, he had to give me the figures.
No.
He tried to get out of it the last time.
This week the Deputy asked the question he intended to ask last week.
Last week I asked the Minister a question for which he said he had no responsibility, and this week he is shown to have given information last week which was incorrect. It is most irresponsible.