Denis Foley
Ceist:188 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he expects to receive the final report from the Integrated Social Services System Working Group. [14673/96]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Report.
Denis Foley
Ceist:190 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Social Welfare the consideration, if any, he has given to the establishment of a single means testing agency within his Department. [14672/96]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 188 and 190 together. I have received the final report of the Integrated Social Services System (ISSS) Inter-Departmental Committee. The report was presented to Government and agreement was given to its publication. Arrangements for publication are being made by the Minister of State, Deputy Durkan, who has been given responsibility for promoting and progressing the recommendations in the report.
The question of setting up a single means testing agency was one of the many issues considered by the committee. In the committee's view there is no compelling reason, at this time, to set up a single means testing agency. The committee recommended that a central means database be set up to record details of all means assessments and that the means recording system in the Department be further developed for use as a central means database by all income support agencies.
The committee also recommended that the issue of a single means testing agency should be kept under review and examined again when the central means database has been in operation for some time.
The Government agreed that the recommendations in the report will be progressed within the context of the strategic management initiative process and that the various Government Departments and agencies involved should take on board the recommendations as far as possible within budgetary and staff resource constraints.