Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 399: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cross border programmes, initiatives, areas of co-operation and so on which her Department is engaging in or about to engage in with its counterparts in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7613/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department is involved in a number of specific initiatives with our counterparts in Northern Ireland as set out as follows. Control of Fraud

The Department has 600 staff at local, regional and national level engaged on a full or part-time basis on work related to the control of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system. In relation to cross-border co-operation, procedures are in place to deal with ongoing referrals, fraud and non-fraud in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. People who move from Northern Ireland to Ireland may have an entitlement to a social welfare payment. However, if there is any suspicion of a fraud being perpetrated, this is investigated by local Social Welfare Inspectors.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland was signed in October 2000. Under the aegis of the MOU, the Cross - Border Operations Forum assists and directs activities relating to the investigation of social security benefit fraud with a cross border dimension. The Cross - Border Operations Forum undertakes individual fraud investigations and larger projects and shares best practice in counter fraud operations. Due to operational sensitivities the Department cannot release information regarding the specifics of control activities that target cross border fraud. Free Travel scheme

The Free Travel scheme permits a customer to travel free of charge on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by a large number of private operators in various parts of the country. The cross-border free travel scheme, introduced in July 1995, enables customers make journeys from a point in the Republic of Ireland to a destination in Northern Ireland. Similarly, residents in Northern Ireland in receipt of concessionary travel can avail of cross border journeys to this State. Since April 2007, customers aged 66 years and over can also travel free of charge on all bus and rail services within Northern Ireland. Likewise, pensioners in Northern Ireland travel free of charge on transport services within the Republic of Ireland. Social Welfare Summer School

The annual Social Welfare Summer School, run jointly by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Department for Social Development Northern Ireland, provides a significant development opportunity for staff, particularly so for those who would not normally in the course of their day to day work have an involvement in policy development. Within a university environment, it provides an opportunity each year for 24 staff from the South and 24 from the North to analyse and discuss topical social policy issues and to gain insights into the policy development process. It also gives opportunities for staff to exchange views and discuss topics with their counterparts from Northern Ireland. Healthy Food for All

The Healthy Food for All is an all-island multi-agency initiative seeking to promote access, availability and affordability of healthy food for low-income groups. The Department (in continuance of a commitment made by the former Combat Poverty Agency) is one of a number of bodies, which are funding the initiative for the period 2008-2010. Other bodies include Food Safety Authority Ireland, Safefood and the HSE. Administrative support to the initiative is provided by Crosscare.

To date, the initiative has published a good practice guide to school food provision (June 2009), developed an extensive all-island network and contacts and has been involved in the EU scheme for the provision of fruits and vegetables in schools. In October 2009 the initiative held a policy briefing regarding the costs of a healthy diet for low-income families. The initiative also works to identify good practice and alternative approaches to the provision of accessible and affordable healthy food particularly for those on low income. In 2010 an amount of €25,000 is being provided through the Social Inclusion Division of the Department for this initiative.

The Irish and UK Governments are committed to promoting North/South consultation, co-operation and common action concerning policies on poverty and social exclusion and both Lifetime Opportunities: Government's Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy for Northern Ireland and the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 contain common text outlining how the Irish and UK Governments are committed to identifying potential areas for further co-operation.