asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has plans to rationalise means-testing by State agencies to avoid duplication and delays; when he expects a unified system to be in operation; and when he expects computers in the health and social welfare spheres to be interactive.
Written Answers. - Means-Testing by State Agencies.
255.
Changes to the various means tests applied by the Department and by other state agencies would be dependent to a large degree on a rationalisation of the various schemes in respect of which the means tests are operated.
The Commission on Social Welfare established in August 1983 has a mandate to review and report by August 1985 on all aspects of the social welfare system and related social services and to make recommendations for their development having regard to the needs of modern Irish society.
Rationalisation of the means testing would be a large and complicated task which could only be fruitfully undertaken when the proposals from the Commission on the various assistance schemes are to hand.
Interaction between the various agencies involved including interaction between their computerised services would, of course, be a factor to be considered in rationalising the various means tests. Computer developments at present taking place in the Department are being designed in such a way as to open up the possibilities of facilities of this nature should they be considered necessary or desirable. They will have to await computerisation of the various assistance schemes in the Department, a process which will take several more years to complete.