Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - Free Schemes.

Denis Naughten

Question:

300 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 10 December 1998, the review of the free schemes run by his Department has commenced; when this review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6754/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The review of the free schemes has commenced. It is being carried out by an official of my Department on secondment, as a visiting research fellow at the Policy Institute, Trinity College, Dublin.

The terms of reference for the review are to examine the rationale for benefit-in-kind schemes; establish the correct charging mechanism for the services provided; identify the objectives of the free schemes; evaluate the extent to which those objectives have been achieved and remain valid; comment on how effectively and efficiently the free schemes have achieved their objectives; evaluate the extent to which the objectives warrant the allocation of public resources and, if so, whether the current allocation is appropriate; examine the scope for alternative policy arrangements; specify suitable performance indicators which can be used to monitor and evaluate these schemes in the future. The research conducted will be published in theTrinity Studies in Public Policy series. It is expected that the review will be completed by mid-year and published by the Policy Institute in October-November 1999.