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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Services.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

27 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to establish social welfare services as an executive agency with a view to improving the management, effectiveness and transparency of his Department's operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1903/00]

The policy and executive functions of my Department were restructured into separate offices in 1986. One of these offices, known as social welfare services, is responsible for the day to day operations of the social welfare schemes and services.

The establishment of social welfare services to administer the various schemes and to develop effective customer centred delivery mechanisms and management systems has enabled my Department to focus more effectively on the continuous improvement of its performance in this regard. This has led to significantly improved levels of service delivery over the period.

A significant feature has been the implementation of my Department's customer action plan as part of the Delivering Better Government initiative.

The putting in place of a regional management structure within social welfare services in 1991 has also enabled my Department to deal more effectively with issues of access and service delivery at a local level.

The role and remit of my Department has broadened considerably since the establishment of social welfare services, for example, in the areas of social exclusion and in the development and improvement of services to the voluntary and community sector. The Department's role has also expanded in relation to services for families and this aspect of the Department's work will further expand and develop in the future.

The greater integration of service delivery across Departments and agencies is also a Government priority and my Department has taken a leading role in this area, for example through the establishment of the REACH project to identify and foster opportunities for greater access to services using new technology within the framework of the information society action plan.

All of these emerging developments have implications for the organisation of my Department and for the role of social welfare services in particular. The management structure of social welfare services has been changed as required to reflect the changing demands on it and the question of further changes, will be kept under review in the context of the implementation of the Government's ongoing strategic management initiative and the Public Service Management Act, 1997.

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