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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Dec 1987

Vol. 376 No. 11

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Officers.

31.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the widespread disquiet about inconsistencies in the manner in which farm incomes are calculated by social welfare officers, he will outline the qualification these officers are required to have for their particular job; the special training they receive; the checks there are in the process of evaluation of incomes after the social welfare officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

36.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare arising out of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 17 November 1987, if he will outline the qualification in agriculture of a social welfare officer.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 36 together.

These officers investigate the means and circumstances of persons applying for, or in receipt of, payments under the various means tested schemes administered by my Department. For this purpose they receive training in all aspects of their work.

A formal qualification in agriculture is not a condition for appointment as a social welfare officer but, since the investigation and assessment of means from farming forms an important part of the work of social welfare officers, they are acquainted with the various farm activities and operations through the training which they receive and by being kept abreast, on an ongoing basis, of all factors which have a bearing on the agricultural economy which affect their work. This training is provided by social welfare supervisors and other social welfare officers who, because of the nature of work in rural areas, are widely experienced in farm investigative work and possess a good knowledge of agri-business in general and of the difficulties and problems associated with that business.

Each social welfare officer, in a rural area, is trained to have a sound knowledge of the agricultural economy of that area particularly as regards marketing conditions and trends as to inputs, outputs, prices and costs. In evaluation the stock, crop and farming data, gathered in the course of investigations of individual cases, officers have regard to these local conditions and trends as well as to data published by expert bodies in the field of agriculture.

The training received by social welfare officers, the expertise which they develop and the knowledge of practical farming which they acquire in the course of their work enables them to submit reports on which fair assessments of means, from farming, for social welfare purposes can be made.

Social welfare officers work under the control and direction of social welfare supervisors who, in addition to exercising general control, check in detail a percentage of the work of their officers.

When a social welfare officer has completed his investigation he submits a report to a deciding officer for decision. The deciding officer has experience of dealing with claims from all areas of the country and in cases of doubt or apparent inconsistency, on any matter in relation to a claim, he would refer the report back to the social welfare officer, or to his supervisor, for clarification, elaboration or further investigation as necessary.

A claimant who is a landowner receives, in addition to the formal notification of the decision, a copy of the form containing the details on which the social welfare officer based his estimate of the net yearly value of the farm together with particulars of any other means assessed. In this way claimants are made aware of the basis on which the means assessed are calculated.

Finally, if a claimant is dissatisfied with the amount of means assessed against him it is open to him to appeal against the decision and to have his case determined by a statutorily appointed appeals officer.

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