http___www.welfare.ie_ga_Pages_Annual-Report-2008.aspx_1.xml
1.1 2.1 3.1 3.2 3.3 4.1 4.2 4.3 5.1 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 7.1 8.1 9.1
Foreword from the Minister I welcome this first Report on our Department’s Statement of Strategy 2008-2010 which outlines the delivery of services in 2008. The progress made in social welfare provision during 2008 is documented in the Report. The cost of this provision exceeded €17 billion, an increase of 14.5% on expenditure in 2007. The increases introduced in Budget 2008 show our commitment to supporting citizens at every stage in their lives, but particularly when they experience unemployment, illness or any change in their circumstances. The Report demonstrates the implementation of policies which make real differences to the lives of a very large number of people on a regular basis. These policies are informed by the principal of equality of opportunity and are aimed at facilitating people to avail of work, training and educational opportunities in order to encourage them to become less dependant on the welfare system. For example, the innovative Disability Activation Project, implemented on a pilot basis in 2008, is a comprehensive employment strategy based on individual case management that will have the capacity to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities. The Report also highlights the Department’s emphasis on the provision of quality customer service through the continuing enhancement of its processes and supporting IT systems. The economic downturn, manifested during 2008, put significant pressure on the delivery of the Department’s schemes and services. The Live Register alone increased by over 70% in the year to December 2008. The challenge for us all now is to maintain and promote greater social inclusion in these difficult times for our economy and society. This means ensuring that those who are most vulnerable are protected and have their living standards and access to essential services maintained. I recognise that staff across the Department are under pressure coping with increased claimloads and I wish to thank them for their continued support and commitment during 2008. Mary Hanafin, TD Minister for Social and Family Affairs
1.1 2.1 3.1 3.2 3.3 4.1 4.2 4.3 5.1 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 7.1 8.1 9.1
BROLLACH ÓN AIRE Cuirim fáilte roimh an gcéad Thuarascáil seo ar Ráiteas Straitéise na Roinne 2008-2010 a dhéanann cur síos ar sholáthar seirbhísí i 2008. Tá cuntas ar an dul chun cinn a tharla i soláthar an leasa shóisialaigh le linn 2008 sa Tuarascáil. Bhí níos mó ná €17 billiún i gceist le costas an tsoláthair seo, méadú 14.5% ar an gcaiteachas i 2007. Léirítear leis na méaduithe a tháinig isteach i mBuiséad 2008 an bealach a bhfuilimid tiomanta chun tacú le saoránaigh ag gach staid dá saolta, go háirithe má bhíonn siad dífhostaithe, breoite nó má tharlaíonn athrú ar bith ina gcuid cúinsí. Leis an Tuarascáil léirítear na polasaithe a cuireadh i bhfeidhm a dhéanann difear mór do shaolta líon ollmhór daoine ar bhonn rialta. Braitheann na polasaithe seo ar an bprionsabal i dtaobh comhionannais deiseanna agus an aidhm atá acu ná chun é a dhéanamh níos éasca do dhaoine le hobair, oiliúint agus deiseanna oideachasúla a fháil d'fhonn iad a spreagadh le go mbeidh siad ag brath níos lú ar an gcóras leasa. Mar shampla, is straitéis fhostaíochta chuimsitheach é an Tionscadal nuálach Gníomhachtúcháin do Dhaoine faoi Mhíchumas, a cuireadh i bhfeidhm ar bhonn píolótach i 2008, atá bunaithe ar bhainistíocht cháis aonair, a bheidh in ann ráta fostaíochta na ndaoine le míchumais a mhéadú. Chomh maith leis sin díríonn an Tuarascáil ar an mbéim a leagann an Roinn ar sholáthar seirbhísí do chustaiméirí atá ar ardchaighdeán trína bpróisis agus córais TF thacúla a fheabhsú go leanúnach. Chuir an cor chun donais eacnamaíoch, a tháinig chun cinn le linn 2008, brú suntasach ar sholáthar scéimeanna agus sheirbhísí na Roinne. Mhéadaigh an Beochlár amháin faoi níos mó ná 70% sa bhliain go mí na Nollag 2008. An dúshlán atá romhainn ar fad anois ná cuimsiú sóisialta níos fearr a choinneáil agus a chothú sna hamanna deacra seo dár ngeilleagar agus dár sochaí. Ciallaíonn sé seo a chinntiú go gcosnaítear na daoine is leochailí agus go gcoinnítear a gcaighdeáin mhaireachtála chomh maith le bheith in ann fáil ar na seirbhísí riachtanacha. Tuigim go bhfuil an fhoireann ar fud na Roinne faoi bhrú ag iarraidh freastal ar ualaí na n-éileamh atá méadaithe agus is mian liom buíochas a ghabháil leo as ucht an tacaíocht agus tiomantas leanúnach a thug siad le linn 2008. Mary Hanafin, TD Aire Gnóthaí Sóisialacha agus Teaghlaigh