Denis Naughten
Question:114 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider a more active role for community welfare officers in the provision of primary welfare services through health boards. [24503/00]
Written Answers. - Community Welfare Officers.
I have no plans at this time to effect any changes to the community welfare services currently administered by community welfare officers employed by the health boards.
However, I am aware that the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs has established a working group to carry out a review of the operation of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. In addition, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is examining proposals relating to the possible transfer of the payment of rent allowances to local authorities for integration with other housing functions. Both of these schemes are currently administered by and comprise a significant portion of the workload of community welfare officers.
Pending the outcome of these reviews, I am not in a position to indicate what changes, if any, may result in the role of community welfare officers or how any such changes might be addressed. However, my officials are engaged in ongoing consultations with these other Departments and with the health boards on the role of community welfare officer now and in the future.