Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 542: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the value for money review of the supplementary welfare allowance phase two was completed; the value of the saving to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33791/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The review of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme was carried out as part of the Government's Expenditure Review Initiative series of Programme Evaluation reviews. Given the extensive and complex nature of the scheme, the review was undertaken in two phases. A report was published at the end of the first phase in December 2004. That report gave a broad appraisal of the scheme and identified issues for particular consideration in the second phase which commenced in February 2005. This second and final phase of the review, which was published in November 2006, is an in-depth examination which considered the issues raised in phase I of the report, examined the validity of the objectives of the scheme and the efficiency and effectiveness of the scheme. The report of phase II of the review also provided a series of recommendations in relation to the future of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

Overall the review concluded that the scheme has, over the years, met its objective of guaranteeing that every person in the State has a minimum level of income sufficient to meet their basic day to day needs. However, the review also points out that the scheme has gone beyond its original "safety net" role and now plays a more extensive role than was originally intended. In overall terms the main recommendations arising include:

The creation of a unified system of income support delivered at Social Welfare Local Offices and complemented by a range of activation supports;

Vigorous support of the Rental Assistance Scheme to address housing needs of people in long-term rent supplementation

A continued role for the Community Welfare Service in delivering a flexible and immediate response to those most in need.

A number of measures have been introduced to progress implementation of the recommendations of the review. For example, Budget 2007 provided for improvements in the qualifying conditions for rent supplement which will support the transfer to the rental accommodation scheme of rent supplement tenants who wish to take up full-time employment.

The review also identified a number of issues relating to the incentives under the rent supplement scheme for those wishing to take up an employment opportunity. These issues were addressed in Budget 2007. Since June of this year where a person has additional income in excess of the standard weekly rate of supplementary welfare allowance , the first €75 of such additional income together with 25% of any additional income above €75 is disregarded for means assessment purposes. This ensures that those returning to work or participating in training schemes are better off as a result of taking up such an opportunity.

The review also recommended an easing of the means test for supplementary welfare allowance in the assessment of capital. Budget 2007 provided for an improved capital assessment which presents a less severe approach to the assessment of capital for SWA purposes. The process currently underway to transfer certain functions from the HSE to my Department presents fundamental reform and developmental opportunities for a fully integrated and enhanced income support system, as recommended in the report. This includes a restructuring and integration of income and wider support services within one entity, namely my Department, while facilitating the HSE in concentrating on its core health and personal social services functions. The report provides a working template to support the transfer programme.

In conclusion, the focus of the review was on maximising the achievement of the objectives that have been identified as appropriate to the supplementary welfare scheme in an effective and efficient manner. Over time, the implementation of the recommendations of the review, will result in improvements in the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the scheme.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 543: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the value for money review of the unemployment benefit and assistance for atypical workers was completed; the value of the saving to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33792/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The review of the jobseeker schemes which was undertaken under the expenditure review process, focused on the application of the schemes conditions to workers who are not employed on a full-time basis. The review was completed in November 2006. The review contained a range of recommendations, some of which may result in savings to the Exchequer or to the Social Insurance Fund while others could lead to additional costs to the Fund. The conclusions and recommendations are under consideration within my Department.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the value for money review of one-parent family payments was completed; the value of the saving to the Exchequer generated by the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33793/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The review of the one-parent family payment was one of two strands of work undertaken with regard to lone parents and their families under the auspices of the Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion, the other being an analysis of obstacles to employment for lone parents. Both of these reports are contained within the 'Government Discussion Paper: Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents' published in March 2006. The focus of the review of the one-parent family payment was to examine; the effectiveness of income support arrangements with regard to the needs of lone parents and their children; the desire to avoid long term dependency on social welfare income support and the continued appropriateness of the scheme.

One of the main findings of the review was that while the Exchequer is spending significant resources in direct supports for lone parents, €1.48 billion in 2006, it is achieving poor outcomes in terms of tackling poverty and social exclusion. That is why the Government discussion paper put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities ; the extension of the National Employment Action Plan; focused provision of childcare; improved information services and the introduction of a new social assistance payment for all low income families, including lone parents with young children.

The development of any new scheme to support low income parents can only be introduced when the necessary co-ordinated supports and services are put in place on the ground by other Departments and Agencies. For this reason, the non-income recommendations contained in the discussion paper are currently being tested in two areas: Coolock and Kilkenny. These tests will identify and address any practical and administrative issues that may arise in advance of a scheme being introduced. The tests are scheduled to run until the end of the year, after which a report will be made to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion. The tests will allow for operational and logistical co-ordination between the relevant Departments and Agencies to be considered and will facilitate the development of the policy and operational details of the new scheme and accompanying supports.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 546: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the value for money review of the disability allowance scheme will be completed; the anticipated value of the saving to the Exchequer due to the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33795/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Disability allowance was one of the payments which formed part of the Expenditure Review of Illness and Disability Payment Schemes that was carried out by my Department in 2003 and subsequently published in 2004.

The review examined and reported on the trend and level of expenditure and found that disability allowance is well targeted in addressing income maintenance requirements of customers and combating social exclusion. The review also highlighted a number of areas where further work can be usefully targeted. The first of these is the reason for the rise in the number of recipients of Disability Allowance since 1996, when my Department initiated the disability allowance scheme to replace the previously existing Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowance scheme.

The second area to be further examined is access for people in receipt of disability allowance to employment and training. This is obviously an area of increased importance to the Department, reflected in the focus on 'people of working age' in the National Action Plan on Social Inclusion, the latest social partnership agreement Towards 2016 and the Department's Disability Sectoral Plan. The Sectoral Plan is of particular importance in that regard because it builds on the Department's key policy objectives and aims to deliver support to people with disabilities that will reduce their risk of dependence.

It is now proposed to further examine these two particular issues. I am anxious to ensure that this examination is relevant to the needs of people with disabilities and my Department is at present finalising terms of reference for the review. The review will begin early in 2008 and will take between six and nine months to complete.

Central to this work will be the forthcoming publication by the Central Statistics Office of findings from the National Survey on Disability in Ireland carried out in 2006. This survey will allow the Department, for the first time, to 'match' the incidence of disability in Ireland against the numbers in receipt of disability allowance. It will give valuable information on the profile of recipients, including previous and current employment history, which will allow for more informed policy options to be taken. Publication of this survey by the Central Statistics Office is expected early in 2008 and the availability of this data will affect the timing of the completion of the disability allowance review.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 547: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the value for money review of information services provided to customers will be completed; the anticipated value of the saving to the Exchequer due to the implementation of the conclusions from this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33796/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My department is carrying out a Value for Money Review of its information services together with the relevant agencies under the aegis of the Department that are engaged in information provision, i.e. Citizens Information Board and Reach. The review will cover the period 2005-2007 and will examine direct and indirect expenditure incurred in the provision of information on welfare schemes. Work on the review has commenced and is expected that it will be completed by the end of 2008. Any recommendations arising from the review will be assessed at that time.