Vol. 486 No. 4
21 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on whether the multiple means tests for individuals are a waste of time and money; and the reason a single means test has not been introduced by using a central means database. [2873/98]
The lack of integration between the various social services of an income related nature administered by Government Departments and State agencies has been a matter of concern for some time. This lack of integration can result in duplication of effort by those agencies involved in administering income support schemes, since each agency carries out its own means test. This issue has been highlighted on a number of occasions in the House and by various commentators. Complaints have also been received from people regarding the number of times they have to provide the same information to different State agencies to receive their entitlements. The report of the interdepartmental Committee on the development of an integrated Social Services System, published in 1996, sets out a framework for the development of an integrated approach to the administration, delivery, management and control of publicly funded income support services. The basic objective is to introduce greater coherence into the provision of these services. One of the issues being addressed in this context is the question of sharing information, including means data, within and between agencies involved in the delivery of social services. The Deputy will be aware of the requirements and obligations set out under the Data Protection Act to protect the privacy interests of individuals when information about them is processed. My Department is currently in the process of preparing legislation which will allow for the sharing of data, under specified circumstances, between the various agencies.
The aim is to put in place over time better administrative procedures by the various State agencies which will enable them to share the latest available means data for a customer. The means information could be stored on a Central Means Database, which has been developed by my Department which could then be accessed by relevant agencies where the customer has made a claim for an allowance, grant, etc. This would help ensure a better and quicker service for customers.
In relation to the means tested schemes operated by my Department, there is a need to balance the desire for uniformity and consistency across all social welfare means tests with the need to ensure that the system is sufficiently flexible to be able to respond adequately to the specific needs of differing categories of customers.
The different methods of assessing earnings between the various social assistance payment schemes reflect, in many instances, specific policies being pursued by the Department, which are aimed at targeting particular groups of recipients for special attention.
For example, the means test associated with the one-parent family payment scheme acts to encourage and facilitate lone parents to enter the active labour force by enabling them to earn up to £6,000 a year without affecting their entitlement to the payment. It is recognised that unemployed lone parents face many difficulties in trying to access the labour market, particularly in relation to child minding expenses, and as a consequence they are particularly at risk of poverty. This measure is designed, therefore, to specifically encourage such people to gain a foothold in the labour market, thereby reducing their dependence on social welfare payments.
Similarly, the means test associated with the unemployment assistance scheme has been restructured to make it easier for claimants to avail of casual and part-time work opportunities and to ensure that they are always better off as a result.
My Department will continue to seek to streamline the administration of means tests in the interests of improving the quality of service to customers and of ensuring that their specific needs are reflected in the nature of the means tests involved.
Will the Minister agree that the present system is a waste of time and money in that a person applying for dole, a medical card and a rent allowance is means tested by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, the health board and the local authority? He must also undergo another means test if his daughter wishes to avail of a higher education grant. If the Minister agrees with me, why have no steps been taken to simplify the system? The first phase of the excellent report produced some years ago was supposed to be brought into effect within one or two years. Why is there no single means test or central database which could be used for different means tests? Does the Minister understand the frustration felt by people who want a better and more streamlined system to be introduced as quickly as possible?
An integrated social services system is designed to ensure a flexible integrated approach to the administration and delivery of services. A committee was established in 1993 with a specific brief and it produced a report. The previous Government looked at the report and recommended certain procedures to move it on. The Social Welfare Bill will provide for a certain number of tests and will move on the issue so that there is greater flexibility and standardisation across agencies.
It is facile to say that one means test could be used for all services as agencies have different criteria and also cover different areas. For example, in considering applications for a medical card the agency has to take into account financial as well as medical issues. A number of reports produced in recent years recommend the setting up of a unique identifier which can be used by all agencies to obtain and transfer information. Obviously this will be subject to the restrictions imposed by the Data Protection Act. I assure the Deputy that reference will be made to this in the Social Welfare Bill, which I hope his party will support.
I am encouraged in one sense by what the Minister said but I am worried in another sense. I am encouraged in that we are of one mind about what needs to be done. It does not matter if there is a single means test or a central database so long as there is a simple way of doing the job. I am concerned at the Minister's reference to the Social Welfare Bill which the Taoiseach told me on the Order of Business this morning will be circulated next week. Will all the legislative problems in this area be overcome in the Social Welfare Bill or will it simply provide for one means tests for each person? Will the problems which arise from the Data Protection Act be overcome by way of amendment in the Social Welfare Bill? Will the legislative jungle be cleared so that a new system can be brought into operation this year? If so, I will certainly support the section of the Social Welfare Bill which deals with this issue.
The Deputy is experienced enough to know that an amendment to the legislation is only one aspect and that a number of other aspects must also be dealt with, including the integration of the service which will cost a large amount of money. We are slowly but surely moving along the road towards an integrated system, which must be welcomed by all Members.
The Minister will have my full support if he gets on with the job.
The legislation was hanging around for almost two years and I propose to bring it forward after only a short time in office.
That is not fair.
