Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views regarding the respective role (details supplied) of the community welfare officer and the social worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23546/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The staff of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) was seconded to my Department from the HSE at the beginning of this year and the intention is to have staff fully integrated within the Department by the beginning of next month.

The main function of the Community Welfare Officers (CWOs), who make up the CWS, is to administer the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) Scheme on behalf of my Department.

While CWOs work closely with social workers and other support services provided by the HSE, their role is quite distinct and different from that of a social worker. Their primary function is to review client applications for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) payments. In doing this they gather information in order to assess the client's means and their needs. In cases where the client's needs are not met by income support payments the CWO may refer the client to other services (including social workers). Although this can give rise to overlaps with regard to the collection and sharing of information we do all we can to minimise duplication within the parameters of Data Protection Law.