Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures in place to replace social welfare inspectors in view of the delay in processing applications for social welfare payments which can occur due to their absence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34229/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Social Welfare Inspectors appointed under Section 250 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, investigate claims to all means tested Social Welfare Schemes, excluding Supplementary Welfare Allowance. Reviews of means tested payments are also carried out by Inspectors to ensure the conditions regarding entitlement continue to be satisfied. The Inspectors' remit also includes the combating of fraud and abuse of all the Department's schemes.

The increase in the Live Register over the last year or so has resulted in considerable extra demands being made on the resources of the Social Welfare Inspectorate. As a result of this, I sought and received approval for 40 additional assignments to the grade of Social Welfare Inspector.

Of these 40 posts, 21 Inspectors have already been assigned and are in place. Dates of assignment have been arranged for a further 6 posts and the process of assigning them is underway. Of the remaining 13 posts, offers have been accepted in relation to 8 posts and arrangements are in train to backfill their current positions in order to facilitate their transfer. Work continues on securing staff for the remaining 5 posts. All staff for the additional Inspector posts are being sourced by the redeployment or lateral transfer of serving Civil Servants either within the Department or from other Government Departments.