Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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296. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if social protection inspectors are required to keep a record of unnotified or notified home visits, namely, the number of unnotified or notified home visits, the date of unnotified or notified home visits to the homes of applicants or recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28551/16]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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297. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if social protection inspectors are required to make a report of the outcome of notified or unnotified home visits to the homes of applicants or recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28552/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of a record of un-notified or notified home visits undertaken by Social Welfare Inspectors (SWIs) is not available in my Department.

The approach taken in each investigation is determined by the Inspector and if home visits, be they un-notified or notified, are deemed to be necessary to determine a person’s eligibility for a particular social welfare scheme, they form part of the overall investigation. An Inspector’s report is then submitted to a Deciding Officer in the Department for decision on the individual claim.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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298. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines and protocols which exist to guide Social Protection Inspectors on the use and application of notified or unnotified home visits to the homes of applicants or recipients. [28553/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Social Welfare Inspectors (SWIs) operate under a code of practice which sets out the manner in which they are required to deal with the public. Inspectors are appointed under Section 250 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) and are required to investigate and report on customer’s claims. As part of their investigations, SWIs may need to make notified or un-notified home visits. Such visits to a customer’s home are an operational control measure and it is solely at the discretion of the Inspector as to whether a home visit is necessary and whether they are notified or not.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.