Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Nov 1991

Vol. 413 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Staffing.

John Browne

Question:

32 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if there are any plans to increase the number of social welfare officers in his Department in order to reduce the present delay in having means assessments carried out on old age non-contributory pension applicants.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

51 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether the length of time it takes for social welfare officers to complete assessment of means for applicants of old age non-contributory pensions is too long; and if he has any plans to speed up the system.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. Daly)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 51 together.

Every effort is being made to keep the length of time taken to investigate entitlement to Old Age Non-Contributory Pensions to a minimum. Unfortunately there are delays on occasions but these are mainly due to circumstances in which information is awaited from either the applicant or a third party, e.g. in relation to a bank account or evidence of transfer or property, rather than action on that part of the social welfare officer.

As Deputies may know, it is open to any person to apply for the pension for months before reaching pension age. Where people do so, pension can be awarded in time. My officials advise the public of this right.

In recent weeks my Department have been restructured on a regional basis and one of the main aims of this reorganisation is to bring a more localised and a more speedy service to the public. This localisation process will involve the concept of the one stop shop where members of the public will be able to apply for any social welfare payment, including Old Age Non-Contributory Pension, and have decisions on entitlement made locally. This procedure will further speed up the delivery process.

My Department have this year recruited 25 new investigative staff and these are being used in conjunction with the new structural arrangements to speed up the delivery of all our assistance services.