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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 4

Written Answers. - Integration of Information.

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

237 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare the current level of integration of information within his Department's computer system for recipients with records across more than one social welfare scheme; the degree of record linkage within family units; and his plans for enhancements in each instance. [13612/96]

My Department is engaged in a modernisation programme to provide a more personalised service to customers across the full range of social welfare schemes and services. In support of this, my Department has adopted an integrated approach to computerisation of systems. The key to this integration strategy is the Revenue and Social Insurance — RSI — number which is the main reference number under which information is held across my Department's computer systems. Most people have RSI numbers and are registered on the central records computer system at the Department.

The feature to link records of members of a family unit within this computer system was brought into operation during 1995. At this stage, the linkages are in place for the vast majority of children and linkages for adult dependants will be built up over time.

There are a number of different computer claim and payment processing systems that cater for the social welfare schemes. During 1995, a new integrated system to cover short-term payments schemes — ISTS — was implemented in local offices throughout the country. This system is designed to cater for processing of claims for unemployment benefit and assistance, disability benefit, occupational injury benefit, maternity benefit and supplementary welfare allowance, which is administered by the community welfare officers in the health boards.
Last week the process of extending the system to supplementary welfare allowance claims commenced and will continue until the middle of next year. This is the first time that the processing of supplementary welfare allowance claims has been computerised and benefits are already being achieved.
Later this year disability, maternity and occupational injury benefits will be processed on the new system. The new computer system is tightly integrated with the central records computer system. The registration of a claim triggers an automatic check on central records to establish that identity details are correct and to facilitate payment of the correct adult dependant and child dependant allowances. There is also a check to determine whether another social welfare claim is already in payment.
Work has recently commenced on a major study to review the business processes and procedures in connection with the administration of the long-term payment schemes, such as old age pension, lone parent's allowances, child benefit, etc. It is planned that the development of a new computer system to support more modern, customer focused and cost effective procedures for the long-term schemes will commence in early 1997. The new system will provide close integration with the central records system.
There is a cross-scheme inquiry facility which allows information officers and other staff of the Department deal with inquiries from the public and to check the status of claims and payments. As the systems are developed further, more detailed information will become available in this way. These developments are part of my wider agenda of providing a comprehensive, responsive and integrated service to members of the public who come in contact with the Department's schemes and services.
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