Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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209. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of inspections carried out by social welfare inspectors in each of the years 2012 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the nature of the inspections carried out; and the number of the inspections which were house visits. [27954/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number and nature of inspections carried out by social welfare inspectors for the years 2012 to date is not available in my Department.

This relates to differences in the way investigations were recorded in the past and the fact that some investigations may have passed through multiple officers between starting and ending.  However, I can provide you with the overall numbers of control reviews carried out by my Department in each of the years in question (Table below). 

Control reviews can be carried out by Social Welfare Inspectors, Deciding Officers and other officers of my Department. In many cases a single investigation may be worked on by a combination of these different officers, including inspections by social welfare inspectors. Consequently, it is not possible to disaggregate the number of inspections carried out by social welfare inspectors from the overall number of investigations.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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210. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the types of inspections carried out by social welfare inspectors; and the procedures for such inspections. [27955/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department administers over 70 schemes and services.  Social welfare inspectors are engaged with customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their claim, including regular reviews for all schemes on an ongoing basis.  In order to deliver our services effectively inspectors may engage with each and every customer multiple times in various ways over the course of their claim.

The type of inspections carried out by inspectors consist of desk-based assessments of customer claims, face-to-face interviews with customers, home visits, audits of employers’ PRSI records, specialist investigations, enquiries with other state agencies, self-declarations by customers and joint operations with Revenue.

Reviews arise from both targeted and random case selections and where specific information comes to the attention of inspectors. Targeted investigations are generally based on factors such as where a person or their spouse is earning income or has income from other sources. The person is under a legal obligation to report any change in their circumstance (income or means) to my Department. Issues such as the time which has elapsed since a previous review was undertaken and where information is received which suggest a review may be warranted can also trigger a review.

Social Welfare Inspectors (SWIs) 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.  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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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211. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of complaints made in respect of social welfare inspectors in each of the years 2012 to 2019 and to date in 2020. [27956/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy cannot be provided within the timeframe available. The Department is  now seeking to compile the data sought by the Deputy and will provide the relevant information directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.