As part of my Department's obligations to ensure proper delivery of its service and compliance with the various scheme conditions, including that Exchequer resources provided for those schemes are protected, Social Welfare Inspectors are required to carry out a range of inspections. These include desk-based assessments of customer claims, face-to-face interviews with customers, home visits, and audits of employers’ PRSI records.
The appointment and duties of Social Welfare Inspectors are provided for in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005. Under the provisions of this Act, social welfare inspectors have powers to attend at ports and airports and make enquiries for the purposes of the control and compliance of social welfare schemes. Inspectors have been undertaking control checks at airports and ports since 2012.
Social Welfare Inspectors operate under a code of practice which sets out the manner in which they are required to deal with customers. My Department also has a Customer Charter in place which sets out what a customer should expect when they contact, or are contacted by, the Department. Where a review of a claim results in a disallowance, the customer is entitled to the reasons for the decision and has a right of appeal or review.
My Department has no plans to enact a review for social welfare inspections at ports and airports, and which are provided for by statute, given the existing code of practice and Customer Charter already in place to deal with any issues which may arise.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
