Written Answers. - Open Government Commitment.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
20
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
if he will outline the procedural and operational changes he proposes to introduce into the operation of his Department so as to give effect to the Taoiseach's statement of his commitment to open Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to the concept of open Government.
My Department has improved liaison with the voluntary bodies and community groups who are active in the social welfare area and this development will continue. It provides a very useful medium for a meaningful exchange of views, perceptions and information between my Department and those who have a special interest in its services.
Greater attention is now paid to the amount of information that people should be given at the various stages of their contacts with my Department. The Department accepts that its clients are entitled to accurate information on their rights. There is now a good information network, well-supported by literature for social welfare applicants. In cases where persons are disallowed payment full information is made available as to the basis for the disallowance. If an applicant appeals against a decision to the independent appeals office she/he is facilitated in every way to ensure that she/he is clear as to the issues involved in making the appeal.
As part of the strategy for increasing the availability of information on social welfare my Department is participating in the Aertel TV information service. Homes with the Teletext facility can now access social welfare information during normal broadcasting hours. Those without the Teletext facility can receive social welfare information on Network 2 between 10.45 and 11.30 a.m. This means that social welfare information is being broadcast into 94 per cent of homes throughout the country and people receive accurate information in an environment in which they can most easily absorb it.
Unlike other social welfare payments supplementary welfare allowance payments, apart from basic weekly payments, are made on a discretionary basis. In exercising discretion community welfare officers operate under guidelines issued by my Department. I am revising these guidelines and I intend to publish them. Work on the revision is well under way and the guidelines on rent and mortgage supplements will be published in the near future.
Also, it has been the practice since 1988 for the Minister for Social Welfare to hold a pre-budget forum for the major interest groups of social welfare clients. These occasions, which take place around November each year, provide an important opportunity for a frank exchange of views between the Minister and his officials on the one hand and the representatives of the various client groups on the other. They have proved very helpful in the lead up to the preparation of the annual budget and they will be continued.
My policy is to extend where possible the types of improvements I have mentioned. My Department has recently established a new regional management structure. Under this a new localised service is being created. This is designed to bring the Department closer to its clients. An important part of the localisation strategy is the provision of information to individuals and improved links with voluntary organisations at local level. The principle under-pinning these developments is a very real desire to ensure that the Department is as accessible and as responsive as possible to the needs of its clients.
