Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is important that the online provision is put up as quickly as possible. I had asked the Minister about it just before the summer recess. Perhaps she will also give us an update on that. It will be helpful for those people who can apply online. At least then they can give all of the information before they submit the application at all. That should help to move things along in a timely manner.

I take nothing away from CWOs; they do a wonderful job. The problem is that they are not in the community the way they used to be. We cannot all be wrong. Everyone in the Opposition who has a role in social protection has raised issues with the Minister around CWOs, and I have put it to her many times. This has come to me from the local family resource centre. A person in a domestic violence situation cannot have someone come out to the home. The person does not have 15 minutes to wait on the phone or to explain the situation. People in those circumstances need to be able to access the community welfare officer. In the case of my home town, the CWOs used to be in the local health centre. They are not there anymore and that is an issue. Every Member on this side of the House has raised cases with the Minister. We cannot all be wrong. I ask her to look at it again, and to perhaps engage with the CWOs directly on that.

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