David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his response. Am I correct in stating that the decision has been made? If so, why did no direct consultation or discussion take place with the community welfare officers prior to the decision being made? Is the Minister aware of the community welfare officers' concerns, for instance, that they maintain that their role is more a personal social service than welfare supports, and regarding the possible diminution in the transfer of their personal social service role?

Is this move more about financial management and control, as the Minister mentioned early in his reply, than anything else? If the transfer goes ahead, will the community welfare officers remain headquartered in the health services, as owned by the HSE, or will they be moved to some other location? Does the Minister see the community welfare officers' existing discretionary payment process being changed in any way?

The Minister indicated he would bring forward legislation. Could he enlighten us as to whether this will be a stand-alone Bill or an addition to another Bill, such as the social welfare and pensions Bill, which is expected in February? Will the decisions on the discretionary payments be based on legislation, standing operating procedures, as with other social welfare claims, or guidelines? Will changes be made there?

Is the Minister aware that the community welfare officers have had no opportunity to provide an input into this process to date and that the first time they had one was at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs on 22 June last where they had an opportunity to give a formal viewpoint on the process to transfer the community welfare service from the health sector to the remit of the Department of Social and Family Affairs? Most importantly, is he also aware of the community welfare officers' important link with the health service and could he guarantee that this link will be maintained? Is he also aware of the advocacy, pseudo-counselling role performed by the community welfare officers, that their role involves much more than giving out money to people and that people go to them for more than just that?

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