asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of additional social welfare workers he is appointing to tackle abuses in the social welfare system.
34.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare System Abuses.
33.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has directed that extra staff be appointed to investigate abuses in the social welfare code; and, if so, the numbers involved.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.
Thirteen additional outdoor officers are being appointed for the investigation of alleged abuses of the social welfare code.
Would the Minister say whether any of these extra inspectors is to be engaged in investigating failure on the part of employers to stamp insurance cards?
Certainly.
35.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the basis for his estimate that £2.5 million could be saved through the elimination of abuses in the social welfare system.
The estimate of £2.5 million is based on the Department's experience of abuses of the social welfare code and it is expected that by preventing such abuses, savings of the order referred to are attainable.
Will the Minister give the House an assurance that this money is not to be saved by means of a situation in which inspectors would be instructed to pass a fewer number of appeals in respect of persons seeking social welfare benefits?
I have no hesitation in giving that assurance but I do not issue directions to appeals officers. They operate independently in the exercise of their statutory functions so that I have no control over their decisions.
Is the figure of £2.5 million a net figure, having regard to the cost that will be involved in detecting these abuses?
It would be the saving that we hope to achieve by the elimination of abuses. By that I mean real abuses, the sort of practices that we would all like to see being brought to an end.
Presumably there will be additional costs involved in this new detection operation. That is why I should like to know whether the figure given is net or gross.
They would not be related to each other.
They would have to be if the Minister is to talk about a saving.
The duties of the additional inspectors that we are recruiting will be of a general nature. The inspectors, we hope, will be eliminating abuses other than abuses which would lead to a direct saving. As Deputy Horgan has pointed out, one of the abuses to which they will be directing their attention is the failure of employers to stamp cards. While they will be investigating matters of that nature not all of their activities will necessarily involve immediate and direct savings.
Would the Minister not agree that succeeding in having cards stamped by defaulting employers involves a saving to the extent that contributions are being paid which were not being paid previously?
No.
What qualifications will these additional inspectors be expected to have?
They will be recruited by my Department from the existing staff. Experience of the administration of the social welfare schemes will be a general requirement.
Is there no suggestion that they might have some qualification in social work in order to help them in dealing with applicants?
No. They will be investigatory officers.