Vol. 397 No. 7
22 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it is intended to establish a social welfare advisory council, representative of contributors, beneficiaries and administrators, to advise on policy formulation as recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Commission on Social Welfare recommended in 1986 the establishment of an advisory body to advise the Minister for Social Welfare on any aspect of the system either on its own initative or at the request of the Minister. Since that report in 1986 the Combat Poverty Agency was established to among other things advise me on all aspects of economic and social policy. The National Pensions Board also operates under the aegis of my Department and advises me on pensions policy generally. In addition, my Department are represented on the National Social Service Board and on the National Council for the Aged. I do not consider that there is a need at this stage for a further advisory body given the wide range of sources of advice that are currently available to me.
In recognition of the important contribution voluntary organisations make in the field of social services, a firm commitment was given in the Programme for National Recovery to take measures to ensure a closer liaison with such organisations in the preparation and implementation of policies in the social welfare area. In 1988, in line with that commitment, I initiated the pre-budget forum with voluntary organisations representative of each of the main categories of social welfare recipients. That forum gave them the opportunity to discuss with me what the priority areas should be in formulating my budgetary proposals for consideration by the Government. It was a very successful innovation which I continued prior to this year's budget. On 27 November last I met 11 voluntary organisations and the forum was equally successful and informative. Like last year, I followed up the meeting with a briefing for voluntary organisations on budget day.
