Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the Government intends to redeploy community welfare officers from the Health Service Executive to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31002/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive on my behalf. The establishment of the Health Service Executive prompted a fresh consideration of the role and structure of the Community Welfare Service, and of the most appropriate location for the service in the future.

The Commission on Financial Management and Control Systems in the Health Service noted over the years the health system had been assigned responsibility for a number of services which might be regarded as non-core activities. It recommended that the Government consider assigning non-core activities currently undertaken by agencies within the health service to other bodies.

The Government decided to ask an interdepartmental group to examine this issue. The report of the interdepartmental group was subsequently submitted to, and accepted by, the Government. The report recommends, among other things, that income support and maintenance schemes, together with associated resources, should be transferred to my Department. I welcome this decision as it provides an opportunity to bring about positive change for customers and staff and it is, I believe, a logical approach to provision of these services.

Given the organisational, human resource and industrial relations implications of the transfer proposal, consultations with all stakeholders is part of the process to implement the decision. In this regard, a working group comprising officials from my Department, the Department of Finance, the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive, has been established and is progressing its implementation.

The working group is undertaking extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders and will continue to do so throughout the programme of change. This will include consultation with those who deliver the service and service users. A priority in the context of the transfer process will be to support the high standard of service currently provided by staff in the community welfare service.

The transfer is a major change for all involved but I am confident it will be embraced successfully and will ultimately further enhance the delivery of service to our customers, in particular those most disadvantaged in the community.