Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The three branch offices do phenomenal work. You would not fault them.

I return to the issue around CWOs. The outreach services should be kept under review. Looking at a geographical area – forgive me for being parochial about this – let us take Graiguecullen for example. It is nearly 30 miles from Portlaoise. There is Ballylynan and places such as that, or let us take a town such as Mountmellick, which is closer to Portlaoise at 11 km or 12 km away. However, the second biggest town does not have that presence. The weekly opportunity for somebody to go in and speak directly to a community welfare officer is very important. It is important as well because when officers meet somebody, they get a more accurate assessment of what their needs are or what is going on than just online or a phone call. I ask that in respect of the towns where it is not supplied, the witnesses come back to me with where the community welfare officer-----