Dáil debates

Thursday, 13 March 2014

Topical Issue Debate

Community Welfare Services

5:00 pm

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I appreciate that this topic was chosen. It comes about as a result of the centralisation of social welfare and community welfare services in Mayo. I acknowledge the reasoning behind it, which is the creation of a one-stop-shop and improved services for people on social welfare in order to get long-term unemployed people back to work. Community welfare officers deal with a range of other subjects, however, and many of those are emergency situations at short notice. We have a huge area where there is no public transport, but many of the people who call to the clinic would not have their own transport and they need to talk to someone face to face.

The worst affected area is in east Mayo, followed by south Mayo. Clinics have been closed in Kilmovee, Kilkelly, Charlestown, Kiltimagh, Swinford, Ballyhaunis and Foxford. This means that the entire east Mayo area is left without a community welfare service on the ground. My own home parish of Kilmovee has been assigned to Ballina, which is 51 km away. Mayo is the third biggest county in the country. Kilkelly is a similar distance to Ballina. Ballyhaunis is assigned to Castlebar, which is 45 km away. Kiltimagh is 26 km away. I note that Westport is 11 km from Castlebar, but its service has been retained, although I have no problem with that. I point that out more for the need for something to be done about east Mayo rather than to close down any other service.

South Mayo has also been badly affected including Cong, Shrule, Hollymount and Claremorris. I do not want to jump up and down, as it were, without making suggestions. There could be a centralised office in east Mayo, which has an area larger than County Louth. A central office would provide a point of contact within reasonable distance and would represent a solution. Another option presents. Kilmovee is one of the places I mentioned. It is six miles from Ballaghaderreen, Roscommon, where there is an office, but people are being told in the Kilmovee community centre, where the social welfare officer calls once a week, that there is no cross-border co-operation. People must therefore make a round trip of more than 100 km notwithstanding the fact there is an office six miles away. There must be a solution rooted in common sense. I look forward to the response. I will then have a couple of further questions.

5:10 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, who cannot be here this evening. She has asked me to respond.

A key objective of the transfer of the community welfare service, CWS, from the Health Service Executive to the Department of Social Protection on 1 October 2011 was to provide a streamlined and consistent service to the customer. As part of this process and to support the Department's activation commitments under the Pathways to Work programme and the development of Intreo services nationally, it has been necessary to review the administration of all services, including the CWS. Pathways to Work involves the provision of opportunities, support and assistance to unemployed people by intensifying the Department's level of engagement with them, particularly those who are or become long-term unemployed. The Intreo service delivery model offers practical, tailored employment services and supports for jobseekers. This new service model, which is more efficient in its delivery, is being rolled out across the country. Roll-out is due to be completed for all offices by the end of 2014. Speaking as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, I understand we will be up to 62 by the end of the year. The most recent completion was in Castlebar.

To maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of operation and to ensure continuity of service in light of reducing resources in County Mayo, a decision was made to relocate the CWS to five dedicated locations where Intreo centres will operate. These locations are at Achill, Ballina, Belmullet, Castlebar and Westport. A full range of services will be available at single locations in these places. In the coming weeks, up to eight staff drawn primarily from the CWS will take up new roles as activation case officers supporting those who are unemployed across County Mayo. Where the CWS is being re-structured, alternative arrangements are being put in place to ensure customers are provided with ongoing access to the supports provided by the service. In general, this means the frequency of available public clinics has increased, an improved and enhanced telephone service is available, and alternative arrangements are in place for those who cannot travel due, for example, to illness. These arrangements include visits to the client's home if necessary. Customers who live closer to clinics in other counties can also be accommodated by visiting those clinics instead and practical local arrangements can be made in this regard. I hope, therefore, that the issue the Deputy raised can be resolved.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That might be a solution.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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It is also important to note that people claiming supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme tend to interact with the Department only on an occasional basis. This may be where, for example, they seek an exceptional needs payment or claim additional supports such as rent or mortgage interest supplement, which are usually reviewed once to twice yearly. Staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed to ensure the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department and that the services provided are reconstituted, where necessary, to meet the changing needs of society.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for the statement, especially the clarification on cross-border co-operation. A solution may be possible, which is not what I heard on the ground yesterday. If that has changed, I welcome it. I ask the Minister of State to seek clarification from the Minister for Social Protection on the issue of home visits. Is that something that can only occur in exceptional circumstances or is there wider scope? It would be a solution in certain cases in which transport issues arise. Is it an exceptional or real option? I also ask the Minister of State to inquire of the Minister whether I can meet officials in the west on the cross-border issue. It is timely we are discussing the matter today since the last clinics will take place either today or tomorrow. I am anxious therefore that a solution be put in place as quickly as possible to overcome the problems to which I have referred. I have not mentioned south Mayo in great detail. It would be useful to put a cross-border arrangement in place with neighbouring Galway for that part of Mayo.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The suggestion of a meeting with officials is a very practical one. The manager of the local service should meet the Deputy to iron out some of these issues. We have five Intreo offices in County Mayo.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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One side is left.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I accept that the spread is more north and west than south. They are fine offices. I was recently in Castlebar for the opening of the Intreo office there and passed by the Achill office on my way to look at the flooding problems. The offices represent a much better way to transact business. People can use the five offices, which are open five days a week in Ballina and Castlebar, three days a week in Westport and two days a week in Belmullet. My understanding from the notes I have been given is that intra-county clients can, where practical, be accommodated in neighbouring counties. That must be teased out.

The Deputy asked about making home visits and I will read out the note I have been given. It states:

If a face-to-face meeting is still necessary and the customer is unable to travel to the public clinic, arrangements can be made for an officer to visit the customer's home.
We need to tease that out too to ensure clients and people in the Department are aware of what the Minister has said in reply to this debate. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and I hope we have clarified some of the issues to which he has referred. If a further meeting is required between the Minister and her staff, we can organise that.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.20 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 25 March 2014.