Vol. 482 No. 6
290 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that adequate control procedures are in place in the health boards to prevent fraudulent claims of supplementary welfare allowance and rent allowances; if he will give details of the procedures in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18656/97]
Comprehensive control procedures exist for claims under supplementary welfare allowance and have been considerably strengthened by the recent introduction of comprehensive information systems. Reviews are carried out by health boards in the various regions, on an on-going basis and, in addition, the SWA accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
The controls are typically organised on the following basis across the health boards, although some differences may exist between boards. At the commencement of new claims, all relevant documentation used in the assessment of the entitlement is viewed by the superintendent community welfare officer in each community care area, including proof of identity, RSI number, family composition and dates of birth, and the reasons for the claim are examined. Subsequently all claims are reviewed on a periodic basis.
Supplements are reviewed by means of documentary evidence submitted by the client to the community welfare officer and home visits are conducted as appropriate. Further weekly reviews are carried out by each superintendent community welfare officer via payment reports received from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
The Deputy will be aware that the SWA is a very important scheme and makes provision for people who have little or no means or are awaiting clearance in relation to other schemes. A particular benefit of the supplementary welfare scheme is its ability to relieve urgent and often exceptional need. In this regard, the administration of the scheme depends upon the personal relationship between the community welfare officer and the client and the essential integrity and confidentiality of this relationship.
