Bernard Allen
Question:6 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the new guidelines circulated to all Community Welfare Officers on the exceptional needs payments under the Supplementary Welfare Act.
Written Answers. - Community Welfare Officers' Guidelines.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:28 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in regard to his announcement of 31 May 1993, that Circulars 14/92 and 18/92 were being withdrawn from 1 June 1993, the new code of practice has been completed and issued to Community Welfare Officers regarding exceptional needs payments; the main provisions of the new code of practice; if he will publish the code of practice and the new Circular 7/93 so that clients and public representatives may be aware of their contents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Liz McManus
Question:61 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make available to public representatives the circular in relation to special payments that can be granted by Community Welfare Officers.
Liz McManus
Question:62 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether establishing a code of practice between Community Welfare Officers and bodies like the ESB and An Bord Gáis will create an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy and will interfere with the system that has been established in the past which was flexible and suited to people's needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 28, 61 and 62 together.
The new arrangements which I am drawing up to help people in difficulties with ESB or gas bills, will involve the health boards, the ESB and An Bord Gáis in providing an integrated and effective response to these difficulties. I am drawing up a code of practice, in conjunction with the utility companies and the health boards, for those experiencing difficulties with their ESB or gas bills. My officials will be meeting with both organisations in the near future to conclude an agreement on the proposed code.
My objective in producing this code of practice is to ensure that any client on a social welfare or health board income who has problems in meeting ESB or gas bills will receive all the advice and assistance that is available from the health boards and the utility companies in addition to immediate practical help, where necessary. My aim is to enable people to get back to a situation where they have control of their budget on an ongoing basis and where the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is used to help achieve an effective and lasting solution. This will be a major improvement on the previous arrangements and will ensure greater consistency in treatment across different health board areas.
The code of practice will state simply and clearly the procedure which each organisation will employ in dealing with consumers who are on social welfare or health board incomes and who have difficulty with their bills. Among the benefits which I believe will accrue from introduction of this code will be a significant improvement in the liaison between health boards and local utility company managers to the consumers' benefit.
The guidance issued to the health boards recently, consequent on the withdrawl of the circulars, is intended as an interim arrangement to ensure that help will be available towards ESB and gas bills where there are exceptional circumstances and where expenditure could not reasonably be met from the client's normal weekly income.
The code of practice will be finalised shortly and published in the form of an information leaflet. The published code will incorporate the guidance offered to health boards for dealing with payments for exceptional need in respect of ESB or gas bills.