Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 3

Written Answers. - Increase in Community Care Applicants.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

19 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the report on services for community care area five of the Eastern Health Board under the community welfare section which shows that payments made to clients awaiting social welfare payments (substitute payments) increased by an alarming 40 per cent resulting in an increase in expenditure of nearly 45 per cent to the Eastern Health Board; the reason his Department is causing such an increase in applicants to community welfare officers for assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

Substitute payments arise where applicants are paid supplementary welfare allowance pending determination of their entitlement to a social welfare benefit or allowance. These payments are a very important part of the provision under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme as they ensure that immediate need is met.

The report to which the Deputy refers is an internal Eastern Health Board report which relates to the Dublin West area. Statistics available to my Department for the country as a whole indicate that the number of substitute payments made in the last week in March 1991 was some 8,500, an increase of some 1,400 on the previous year. This must be seen in the context of an increase in the number of weekly social welfare payments in the period of over 33,000.

My Department's objective is to provide an improved and speedier service for social welfare clients and to reduce the need for recourse to substitute payments. A number of measures have been introduced which have been designed to reduce claim processing times throughout my Department.

Applications for unemployment payments represent some 70 per cent of all substitute payments in the Eastern Health Board area. New measures designed to simplify and expedite the determination of claims for unemployment assistance in cases where applicants' means can be easily established include the extension of desk interviewing in place of home visits. Such measures will reduce the duration of substitute payment claims and in some cases eliminate entirely the need for such payments.

A liaison group has been established between the Eastern Health Board and my Department's local management. This group has paid particular attention to the issue of substitute payments, including improving contacts at local level between Eastern Health Board community welfare officers, who make the substitute payments, and my Department's local offices.

In addition to the above measures, a study group was established in October 1991 to examine the operation of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in the Eastern Health Board area and to make recommendations for improved mechanisms and procedures. The group is due to report shortly and I will be giving their proposals immediate consideration. I will be particularly concerned to identify and implement further measures which can be taken to avoid unnecessary recourse to substitute payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.