Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the status of the transfer of community welfare services to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20793/07]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position in regard to proposals that community welfare officers should be transferred from the Health Service Executive to his Department; the position regarding his Department's discussions on this subject with the trade unions representing the CWOs; if a timetable has been set for implementation of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20724/07]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the proposed changes of moving community welfare officers from the Health Service Executive to his Department will take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19732/07]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, when the proposed changes of moving community welfare officers from the Health Service Executive to his Department take effect, community welfare officers involved in political activity will have to cease their political involvement due to the upcoming proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19733/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 142, 565 and 566 together.

In February 2006 as part of its reform of the Health Sector, the Government decided that the administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA), as well as certain other functions, would be transferred to my Department. The SWA scheme is currently administered by the Community Welfare Service division of the Health Service Executive on behalf of my Department. Some 1,000 staff, including approximately 700 Community Welfare Officers are engaged in this process.

Project personnel have been appointed on a full-time basis both in this Department and the HSE and detailed implementation planning for the transfer is well advanced. Enabling provision has been made in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 for a number of technical amendments to existing SWA legislation to facilitate the transfer process. These provisions will be brought into force by way of Commencement Order once CWS staff have transferred to my Department.

A change of this magnitude involves a considerable range of issues to be dealt with. In that regard officials from my Department, the Department of Health and Children and the HSE have been engaged in consultation with the unions representing the Community Welfare Service staff. These discussions are now being facilitated by an independent chairperson who was appointed in July 2007. His initial task is to agree a framework which will allow for detailed meaningful discussions to take place between the parties on the specific issues involved. The intention is that these intensive discussions will take place in the coming months and the chairperson will issue a report outlining progress. Any issues that are unresolved at that stage will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate industrial relations procedures.

It is proposed that the transfer take place in two phases. In the first instance it is envisaged that the Community Welfare Service will transfer to a new branch in my Department with a separate management structure reporting at senior level in the Department. For this phase staff transferring will become Departmental grade civil servants i.e. a grade which is unique to one Department.

Civil Servants above clerical level are not permitted to engage in any form of political activity. This is set out in the official Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour drawn up by the Minister for Finance in accordance with the Standards in Public Office Act, 2001. These restrictions are necessary to ensure public confidence in the political impartiality of the Civil Service. Community Welfare Officers and other HSE staff above clerical level will have to cease any political involvement in which they may be engaged as soon as they transfer to my Department.

The envisaged first phase is an interim arrangement pending full integration of the staff into the Department as general service grade civil servants. Subject to agreement being reached with the unions it is proposed that the initial transfer will take place as soon as is practical in 2008. It is proposed that full integration will take place within three years of the transfer of community welfare staff to the Department. There will be full consultation with all staff, including staff in my own Department in relation to all aspects of the transfer.

The transfer of the Community Welfare Service to my Department represents a major organisational change and a key priority will be to ensure that the provision of a quality service to the public is maintained during the transitional period. Within the income support system there will always be a need for a safety net including exceptional or emergency payments for those who are unable to meet their immediate needs. This function and the discretionary element of the SWA scheme, as currently applied by the CWOs within the CWS, will not be removed.

I look forward to the community welfare staff transferring to my Department forming a central part of an integrated and more and customer focussed service for those members of our society who are most in need.