asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will initiate the necessary procedure to integrate the supplementary welfare scheme into his Department in order that a more efficient and co-ordinated service will be provided for claimants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
16.
One of my primary objectives, as Minister for Social Welfare, is to provide a comprehensive service to social welfare clients through the concept of the one stop shop so as to meet all the needs of the client quickly and in a more co-ordinated manner thus avoiding the necessity for people to be referred from one location to another in order to pursue their claims or obtain information. The future administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is being considered in this general context.
The integration of the scheme into my Department would have major implications for the Department and also for the health boards and the other services they provide. An in-depth examination of these implications is under way at present and will involve consultation with the various interests involved.
Would the Minister agree that the main functions of the supplementary welfare scheme is to give social welfare recipients some money in an emergency? That is and should be the sole responsibility of his Department. Would he agree that the present arrangement leads to inefficiency, long delays and many difficulties, particularly for claimants who must go through a number of different channels in order to get what they are entitled to? Would he further agree that the redeployment of staff from the Department of Health to his Department is no more than is necessary in order for his Department to take responsibility for this scheme?
That question is being examined actively at the moment. There are about 400 community welfare officers and 40 superintendent community welfare officers involved throughout the country.
How long does the Minister expect it to take before this very sensible step proposed by Deputy Harney will be implemented? Are we talking about two months, two years, or can the Minister give us any approximate time span?
It certainly will take some months to complete the study which is going on at the moment, but I can assure the Deputy that once that is completed the matter will be considered very actively with a view to implementation. I shall have to await the results of the study. There are a number of complications which will have to be overcome.