Gary Gannon
Question:880. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if household social welfare inspections are permitted to take place under level 5 [32873/20]
View answerTuesday, 3 November 2020
Questions (880)
Written answers
My Department is considered to be an essential service and will continue to provide customers with access to it's services, as appropriate, during the course of the current Level 5 restrictions. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring that all claims and applications for payment are processed in as timely a manner as possible.
As part of my Department's obligations to ensure proper delivery of its service and compliance with the various scheme conditions, Social Welfare Inspectors are required to carry out a range of inspections including desk-based assessments of customer claims, face-to-face interviews with customers, home visits, and audits of employers’ PRSI records.
In accordance with Level 5 restrictions, public health advice and in the interest of the health and safety of both customers and staff, the Department will seek to fully meet its obligations while limiting, to the greatest possible extent, any face-to-face interviews with customers, including routine inspections, while the current restrictions apply.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.