Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The existing service will not be diluted or changed in any significant way. The role filled by community welfare officers is fundamental. They are at the front line in addressing income supports on a day-to-day basis. There are between 750 to 1,000 community welfare officers in different grades.

This is not some new idea that I thought up. It goes back to the report on the commission on social welfare in 1986 and was reinforced by the review of supplementary welfare allowances carried out by the Combat Poverty Agency in 1991. We are hardly rushing it as the concept has been around for 20 years.

See this speech in context