Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the changes proposed in the role of the community welfare officer nationally; the way he will ensure their independence in relation to decision making in view of any proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37554/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Earlier this year the Government decided to implement the recommendations of the Core Functions of the Health Service Report. This provided for the transfer of certain functions, mainly from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to my Department. The main element of the decision was that income support and maintenance schemes, including the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA), and other cost of disability and caring payments, together with associated resource should be transferred from HSE to my department. This would include Community Welfare Officers (CWOs), Superintendent Community Welfare Officers (SCWOs), senior managers and support staff. The other elements of the decision relate to the transfer of the General Register Office (GRO) and an examination to be conducted on the mechanics of transferring the treatment benefit scheme from my Department to the HSE. A number of interdepartmental working groups have been established to implement the decision.

The SWA scheme is delivered by some 700 CWOs and 59 SCWOs working within the Community Welfare Service (CWS) of the HSE. They provide a service that is flexible, responsive and outcome based. These are positive attributes for which there will be an obvious and continuing need in the future, which my Department will be anxious to preserve and build upon as part of the transfer process.

The SWA scheme is a statutory scheme under the Social Welfare Acts. Under this legislation the HSE is charged with delivering the scheme on my behalf under my general direction and control. In that regard, the scheme is delivered in accordance with guidelines and circulars, issued by my Department. While the executive may avail of advice and guidelines, they have sole responsibility for decision making in individual cases. This principle of independent decision making is one that applies to all statutory social welfare schemes, and I would see it continuing to apply to SWA following the implementation of the transfer programme. Some technical legislative changes will be required in this area and this something that the working group dealing with the transfer of SWA will be examining as part of its implementation programme.

The transfer programme involves major organisational and human resource challenges for my Department and for the Community Welfare Service. At the same time, the proposed change provides a unique opportunity to develop a fully integrated and enhanced income support system which will benefit both customer and service provider alike. I am confident that the transfer of services from the CWS to my Department will be embraced successfully. During the period of transition my Department will continue to give high priority to supporting the delivery of the high standard of service currently provided by staff in the Community Welfare Service.