Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I have been a public representative for nearly 20 years, having been a volunteer and activist knocking on doors. People have always raised the point about a one-stop-shop which would allow them go to one location to access the full range of their entitlements. The community welfare officers and the employment services division of FÁS will be integrated into my Department. In this way we can build a one-point of access service which is integrated. People will not be required to go to three different offices in pursuit of entitlements and signing the register will happen in tandem with thinking about how to get back into employment. This is the system in Scandinavia where there is no delay in offering back to work training or education. This is my vision for the Department and this is my work plan.

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