Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 5

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

81 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of social welfare officers employed in his Department in each of the years from 1990 to date on a county basis; his views on whether this number should be reduced considering the reduction in the number receiving social welfare benefit; and the cost to the Exchequer of this service. [24795/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Social welfare investigators, formerly known as social welfare officers, are deployed throughout the country. Each officer works from a base with a catchment area which can span a number of different countries. The numbers of inspectors for the years since 1991, when the Department's regional structure was established, are shown in the following table:

Number of Inspectors

1991	308
1992	316
1993	363
1994	387
1995	387
1996	385
1997	415
1998	417
1999	417

The number of inspectors as of 1 November 1999 is 409. The total cost of this service, including remuneration and other costs, is approximately £10.9 million.

As well as the investigations arising from claims to social welfare payments and reviews of claims, the duties of inspectors include inspections of employers in relation to their PRSI obligations, and the investigation of cases of suspected fraud or abuse of the social welfare system.

The increase in the number of staff on investigation duties in the period since 1991 reflects the increase in workload over that time. While the numbers in receipt of unemployment payments have reduced, there have been significant expansions of other schemes and additions of new schemes over the period. There has also been a significant increase in the level of control activities undertaken by inspectors over the period with extra staff being assigned for this purpose.

The deployment of staff is a matter for management having regard to the requirements of each area and the need to ensure a good quality of service. There are no plans at present to reduce the number of staff involved in investigation work.