Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I appreciate the Deputy's concern. It is anticipated that there will be no change to current base locations immediately following transfer. However, as the establishment of the national employment and entitlements service progresses, there will inevitably be changes in office locations to facilitate the integration and the provision of the so-called one-stop-shop area to customers. This may mean that departmental staff could transfer to community welfare officer locations or vice versa. The Department is working on a stakeholder communication strategy to ensure that communication is made with internal and external customers in the most appropriate way at the most appropriate time.

I am aware that there is a long history of particular individuals having an ongoing relationship with a particular community welfare officer in their district or area. That is very valuable to certain people, and we will do our best to ensure that this service remains intact. However, there is also more direct payment of certain services at the local office, such as the one-parent family payment. That often entailed visits to community welfare officers while the payment on the status was being sorted out. That should now happen directly in the social welfare office.

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