Vol. 486 No. 4
108 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the current position regarding the implementation of the integrated social service system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2857/98]
I believe that greater integration of income support and related services and service delivery between different Government Departments and agencies is essential in the interests of making these services simplier, easier to understand, more accessible and better managed.
The 1996 report on the development of an integrated social services system identified a number of main areas which need to be addressed in the context of delivering a more integrated system. These are: introduction of a unique public service identifier, for the customer, across the Departments and agencies involved; sharing of data within and between agencies; development of intergrated systems e.g information, payments etc.; development of one-stop shops; creation of a central means database; expansion of payment methods and development of deduction facilities; modernisation and computerisation of the general registers office; and greater use of social services cards across the public service, in particular, for security and payment automation.
I am examining the question of appropriate legislation to allow for the introduction of the RSI number as a unique public service identifier, for the sharing of data between public service organisations and for the expanded use of social services cards.
My Department has developed a central means database for storing and accessing details of means assessments which, subject to the necessary legislation and the technical infrastructure being in place, could be made available for use by other public service organisations.
Responsibility for the updating of legislation in relation to the registration of births, marriages and deaths has been assigned to my Department. This is a complex matter and I will bring forward proposals in this area as soon as possible.
