Dan Boyle
Question:114 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make a statement on the increase in equality complaints made against her Department to the Equality Authority. [17722/04]
View answerTuesday, 15 June 2004
Questions (66)
Written answers
The 2003 annual report of the Equality Authority records that there were 23 social welfare-related complaints made to the authority last year, an increase of 11 over the 2002 figure. The authority has confirmed that this figure of 23 is cumulative, that is, it includes complaints that were unresolved at the end of 2002 and carried forward.
The Department works with the Equality Authority to ensure that the equality-diversity dimension continues to underpin and inform our policies and service delivery approach. Examples of this include the development, under the advice of the authority, of diversity awareness training courses for staff, and participation in a working group on equality-diversity, which is chaired by the Equality Authority.
In addition, last year, the office for social inclusion in my Department collaborated with the authority in developing an equality proofing exercise on the national action plan against poverty and social exclusion. There has also been collaboration between the Combat Poverty Agency and the authority. Last June I was pleased to launch their joint report, entitled Poverty and Inequality — Applying an Equality Dimension to Poverty Proofing, which highlights the link between the promotion of equality and the anti-poverty process and offers a template that can be used by policy makers.
I have given a commitment to a review of the overall social welfare code in relation to the requirements of the Equal Status Act 2000. The Equality Authority has welcomed this review which will be done in consultation with all interested parties. The review will be based on a framework to be agreed with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The scope and terms of reference of the review and the necessary arrangements for undertaking it are being considered at present.
Clearly, any complaint made in relation to the provision of social welfare services is a matter of concern to me. A fundamental principle of the Department's customer service strategy is to ensure that every person is treated in an equitable and non-discriminatory way. In that regard, my Department has a well-established comments and complaints procedure and it is open to any person to exercise his or her right of appeal or redress through all the available channels. Any complaints which are made are investigated and any appropriate action which is required is taken.