Written Answers. - Social Welfare Improvements.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:
19
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
the progress which has been made to date in implementing the report of the Commission on Social Welfare; when it is intended to introduce the current equivalents of the minimum payments recommended in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Michael Ferris
Ceist:
73
Mr. Ferris
asked the
Minister for Social Welfare
if, in light of the 1990 Budget, he will outline the extent to which he has implemented the Report of the Commission on Social Welfare under the headings of (a) basic rates, (b) rationalisation of social welfare schemes and (c) means testing; if he is satisfied with progress to date; when the report will be fully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 73 together.
There were four main recommendations in the report in the Commission on Social Welfare and action has been taken on all of these These are improvement in basic payments; improved child income support; broadening the insurance base; and improvement in delivery of service.
In approaching the social welfare improvements in this budget, I was very much aware of the submissions I received from Deputies and various organisations. Most of these referred to the increases recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare. I trust that the House will agree that the increases now being provided represent substantial progress in this regard. The 1990 equivalent of the priority rate recommended by the commission is £53 and this has now been achieved in the case of all old age and lone parent's pensions and almost to £52, in the case of the long-term unemployment assistance and disabled persons maintenance allowance. The following is an indication of the improvements in the four priority areas referred to by the commission.
Considerable progress has been made in improving the basic levels of long-term unemployment assistance, with an 11 per cent increase in July 1988, a 12 per cent increase in July 1989 and a further 10.6 per cent increase this July. Last year's budget also included the abolition of the urban/rural unemployment assistance differential, which resulted in higher increases for some recipients. This year's budget also increased the unemployment/ supplementary welfare allowance adult dependant payments to £31, which, together with the increases in respect of children, gives significant increases for families.
Child income support has been improved substantially in recent years. As well as general increases in line with inflation, a minimum child dependant allowance of £10 was introduced last July and this is being increased to £11 this July. In the last three years the number of child dependant allowance rates has been streamlined from 36 originally to six rates from next July. Child dependant allowances have been extended from age 18 to 19 in July 1989 and to age 20 next July in respect of children of long-term recipients who remain in full-time education. Child benefit will be increased by 5 per cent from next October, which indicates the Government's commitment to this universal payment, which is made in the main to mothers.
Another major development, in line with the Commission's recommendations, was the extension with effect from April 1988 of social insurance cover for pensions to the self-employed, including farmers. As announced in last year's budget, the Government have decided in principle to extend the social insurance cover to public sector workers currently on the modified rate of contribution. My colleague the Minister for Finance and myself have commenced discussions on this matter with the interests concerned. Although the issues involved are necessarily complex, we are hopeful of arriving at a mutually satisfactory outcome.
The major and ongoing improvements which are being made in the quality, efficiency and delivery of social welfare services are in line with specific recommendations made by the commission in this area. A new Social Welfare Appeals Office is being established and details of this have been given in the Social Welfare Bill. There are also proposals for the regionalisation and localisation of my Department's services. More specifically, there is an employment exchange building programme with an allocation of £4.2 million this year.
In addition to these general improvements, I would also like to refer to the introduction of an assistance scheme for widowers and deserted husbands with children last October, and the introduction of a lone parent's allowance later this year; the introduction of a clothing allowance for school-going children this September and a carer's allowance to replace the existing prescribed relative's allowance later in the year. In addition, the free schemes and the national fuel scheme are being further extended. These improvements, which are along the lines recommended by the commission, achieve a significant degree of streamlining of schemes.
The application of a single means test for all social welfare schemes as recommended by the commission would have significant costs. First, rationalisation could involve modifying some of the concessionary features of the means test which apply in some schemes. Secondly, rationalisation could require easing the more restrictive features of certain other schemes. Nevertheless, a start has been made on the process of rationalisation and simplifying the procedures.
Previously, in many cases applicants were paid SWA while awaiting decisions on their UA applications. This led to delays at local level while an applicant's means were being assessed and, when UA was eventually put into payment, there was the question of recouping the SWA paid from the arrears of UA. Certain categories have now been identified to whom UA may be put into payment without the need for an immediate means test. In general there are persons for whom home visits are not considered necessary. For these people this initiative has greatly reduced delays and speeded up payments as well as reducing duplications of work.
I am involved in the development of "one stop shops" for social welfare services. The personnel involved include social welfare officers who investigate means and community welfare officers who decide on entitlements to supplementary welfare allowance. The objective here is to allow for the services provided at local level to be co-ordinated so that,inter alia, duplication of procedures such as means tests for UA and SWA can be eliminated. The “One Stop Shop” concept or variations of it are now operating in over 100 locations countrywide (Kilbarrack is the most recent new office). It is planned to progressively expand this facility to other offices throughout the country as accommodation and resources permit so that an integrated local service may be provided to social welfare clients.
The process of review of the social welfare system is a continuing one. In formulating further proposals for reform and development of the system I will be taking account of the recommendations and views of the commission. I can assure the House that any measures which can be taken to reform and develop the social welfare system within the financial constraints which exist will be undertaken.
