Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2016
298. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines and protocols which exist to guide social protection inspectors on the use and application of notified or unnotified home visits to the homes of applicants or recipients. [28553/16]
View answerSocial Welfare Inspectors (SWIs) operate under a code of practice which sets out the manner in which they are required to deal with the public. Inspectors are appointed under Section 250 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) and are required to investigate and report on customer’s claims. As part of their investigations, SWIs may need to make notified or un-notified home visits. Such visits to a customer’s home are an operational control measure and it is solely at the discretion of the Inspector as to whether a home visit is necessary and whether they are notified or not.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
