Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Dec 2001

Vol. 546 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Reports.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

33 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the progress made to date regarding the promised review of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme; when it is expected that the report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31596/01]

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

The supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, scheme is administered on my Department's behalf by the community welfare service in the health boards.

The scheme is currently being reviewed by an interdepartmental working group chaired by my Department, as part of my Department's series of expenditure reviews. The working group is composed of representatives from my Department, the Departments of Finance and Health and Children and the health boards.

The review is a fundamental appraisal of the scheme aimed primarily at improving customer service and administrative efficiency. All aspects of the scheme will be examined. The review also provides an opportunity to re-focus the scheme, and the health boards' community welfare service of which it is part, to become more effective in tackling poverty and social exclusion.

The first stage of the review involved an examination of the objectives of the scheme and included a widespread consultation process. A total of 145 submissions were received from users of the supplementary welfare allowance service, information providers and other interested parties including the social partners, the health boards who administer the scheme and the trade unions representing community welfare officers.

The working group originally expected to complete the review by the end of this year. This will not now be achieved as progress has been slower than anticipated given the number and nature of the issues involved. It is now hoped to have the review completed in autumn 2002 following which the report will be published.

Question No. 34 answered with Question No. 29.