Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2016
296. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if social protection inspectors are required to keep a record of unnotified or notified home visits, namely, the number of unnotified or notified home visits, the date of unnotified or notified home visits to the homes of applicants or recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28551/16]
View answer297. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if social protection inspectors are required to make a report of the outcome of notified or unnotified home visits to the homes of applicants or recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28552/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of a record of un-notified or notified home visits undertaken by Social Welfare Inspectors (SWIs) is not available in my Department.
The approach taken in each investigation is determined by the Inspector and if home visits, be they un-notified or notified, are deemed to be necessary to determine a person’s eligibility for a particular social welfare scheme, they form part of the overall investigation. An Inspector’s report is then submitted to a Deciding Officer in the Department for decision on the individual claim.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
