Is the Minister aware that where the Department of Social Welfare officials are of the opinion that a person in receipt of unemployment assistance or, indeed, an applicant for it, is working the community welfare officer will not give supplementary benefit and though the opinion of the social welfare investigating officer may not be correct this leaves the family without any income whatsoever?

That is a separate question.

No, it is not. It is germane to Question No. 4. Who is the deciding officer on an appeal?

In the case of an unemployed person in receipt of unemployment assistance and the social welfare officer has evidence that the recipient is employed that is a separate scene altogether to that mentioned by Deputy Gallagher. The supplementary welfare allowance scheme was introduced in July 1977 in place of the former home assistance scheme. The scheme is operated by the health boards under the general direction and control of the Minister for Social Welfare. Any person whose means are insufficient is entitled to a supplementary welfare allowance and there is a leaflet available explaining the various provisions of the scheme. One applies to the relevant health board and the community welfare officer initially investigates the claim and then the superintendent may also have to examine it.

I appreciate the Minister's reply but surely he will accept that there are cases where the investigating officers may make an error in not allocating unemployment assistance to a particular person. Surely every effort should be made to ensure that every family in the State has a basic income.

I agree. In any case where it can be shown that the scheme has not been operated as it should be operated and people are denied social welfare payments I would be very anxious to have details of such cases.

5.