Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

Some 750 community welfare officers administer approximately €800 million. On the commencement of the health reforms the health strategy made it clear that community welfare officers had no role in that formal structural context. The idea of community welfare officers working more closely with the Department of Social and Family Affairs goes back to the Social Welfare Commission of 1986, a review of the supplementary allowance by the Combat Poverty Agency in 1991, the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities in 1996, the Commission on Financial Management and Control Systems in the Health Service in 2003 and so on, including Professor Brennan's report.

This is not a new idea that I dreamed up, it is logical and sensible and the same people will do the same jobs, giving the same personal service as always. The Department of Social and Family Affairs laid down the policy in this regard — it is not as though there are 759 people wandering around with €800 million at their disposal to distribute as they wish. Every cent distributed by community welfare officers comes under a scheme or heading approved by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. If we sought to interfere with the independence of community welfare officers tomorrow we could do so, regardless of this Bill, if that were the wish of the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

If one cannot rely on a Department with a title referring to social and family affairs, which administers funds of €15 billion to help people in our communities with pensions, child benefits and welfare, to support those in need of assistance, why suggest the Department of Health and Children could do better? Why suggest a health service executive, composed of people appointed by a Minister, could do better? The argument made by the Deputies does not stand up as the same people will do the same jobs under the same regulations and legislation as always and with funds that may increase in the coming years.

Community welfare officers do a marvellous job and have everyone's full support but it is incorrect to think they are totally independent and can suddenly dream up new schemes and give money to people who did not want to approach a social welfare office. They administer an enormous amount of money extremely well but the flexibility they have is granted by this Department. The Deputy worries that this flexibility may be taken away but there is no question of that happening as we give them the flexibility, pay their wages and lay down the rules and regulations under which they distribute money. The only reason this legislation has been proposed is that the health service has gone on a train in a different direction due to health reforms and community welfare officers do not fit on that train. The logic of this is overwhelming.

It is increasingly important that other schemes administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs be co-ordinated because very often we deal with the same people. As Deputy Catherine Murphy said, half of the €800 million they administer goes on rent allowance. There is no question of changing flexibility in this regard as community welfare officers do their work subject to guidelines and legislation. They do not wander around giving certain people rent allowance because they suspect the individual has a special need; they follow guidelines and rules.

A communication strategy is in place and a series of regional meetings with the entire community welfare service is being organised by the Department and the HSE. The first such meeting will take place this month and a document on this topic has been sent to the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union, SIPTU, and IMPACT. A meeting of the joint liaison group was held last Wednesday, 14 March, involving management, the Department, the HSE, the Department of Health and Children, IMPACT and SIPTU and a further such meeting took place yesterday. These meetings will continue to be held. This is in this legislation because the Bill is travelling and we took the opportunity to include it.

The commencement order is something that can be dealt with when a measure of agreement is reached on key issues. Whoever signs the commencement order will have the common sense to ensure the temperature is agreeable at the time of signing.

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