Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1159: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the Government's plans to redeploy community welfare officers from the Health Service Executive to his Department; the implications of same for staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1501/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1171: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the transfer of the community welfare service from the Health Service Executive to his Department has taken place; the meetings that have taken place during the implementation process with the relevant unions and other stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1981/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1159 and 1171 together.

In February 2006 the Government decided to transfer certain functions from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to my Department and also decided to consider transferring certain other functions from my Department to the HSE. This decision included transferring income support and maintenance schemes (including the supplementary welfare allowance scheme — SWA) together with associated resources to my Department, transferring the General Registrars Office (GRO) to my Department, and examining the mechanics of transferring the dental and other treatment benefits from my Department to the HSE.

The implementation of the transfer of functions is being overseen by a steering group chaired by my Department and including representatives from the Department of Health and Children, the HSE and the Department of Finance.

A programme of this magnitude has profound implications for important services and also affects, on a personal level, the staff delivering those services. Throughout the implementation programme, there will be direct and extensive consultation with the staff affected by the transfer of functions programme and with other stakeholders. My Department has already briefed superintendent community welfare officers (SCWOs) on two occasions, in July and November 2006. A series of regional briefings is now being organised jointly by the HSE and my Department for all staff in the HSE's community welfare service and will take place before the end of March. They will provide an opportunity for further constructive engagement and feedback on the implementation of this programme.

The programme has also been discussed at meetings held quarterly between my Department and the trade unions who represent the affected staff in the HSE. The HSE, as current employers of the staff in question, has also discussed the programme with those unions at its regular Joint Industrial Council meetings.

No date has been set for the completion of the transfer process. However I would intend that the transfer would take place as soon as possible when further detailed planning and consultation with stakeholders on this phase of the programme have been completed.

Separate to the transfer of functions programme, my Department recently published the report of the working group on the review of the supplementary welfare scheme. The review, undertaken as part of the Government's Expenditure Review Initiative, was an in-depth examination of all aspects of the scheme including the way it is delivered. The review makes a number of recommendations on the future of the scheme both in terms of its objectives and the way in which it is administered. In that regard the transfer of the CWS to my Department will allow for improvements envisaged in the report to be delivered.

The SWA scheme is delivered by some 700 community welfare officers (CWOs) and 59 superintendent community welfare officers (SCWOs) and supporting clerical staff in the Community Welfare Service of the HSE. The CWS provide a service that is responsive and flexible in meeting needs. These are attributes that will continue to be required into the future and I will be ensuring that they are preserved and built upon as part of the transfer process. In addition, there will be no diminution in conditions of service for the staff concerned.

The transfer of functions presents fundamental reform and developmental opportunities for a fully integrated and enhanced income support system, including the restructuring and integration of income and wider support services within one entity. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for those within the CWS and my own Department in delivering a service to a customer base who are most disadvantaged in society. In that regard I am confident that the transfer programme is seen as a positive way forward and will be embraced successfully by all as it progresses in the coming months.