Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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57. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the absence of statistical data on the use of site visits including home visits by social welfare inspectors; her views on whether this lack of statistical data is appropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48691/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Social Welfare Inspectors are appointed under the Social Welfare Acts to investigate and report on claims and to carry out inspections at employer premises to ensure that there is compliance with the PRSI scheme. An Inspector’s report is then used to inform the Deciding Officer, who is also appointed under the Social Welfare Acts to make decisions on claims based on all the facts and evidence available.

A Social Welfare Inspector will use his or her judgement in deciding the most appropriate location for an interview in order to establish eligibility to the Department’s schemes and to confirm that employers are meeting their obligations in relation to the PRSI scheme. Interviews may be conducted in a customer’s home, in the Department’s offices or on a premises where employment is believed or suspected to be taking place.

A record of facts and evidence relevant to an individual’s claim or the employer’s records is maintained for the purpose of the decision-making process. It is not considered necessary that case specific information, including whether a site visit or home visit took place, is recorded centrally.