Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator McCarthy for his good wishes. The Department of Social and Family Affairs delivers a frontline service to its customers through a network of 59 local offices and 66 branch offices countrywide. The main services provided from these offices include jobseeker's payments, one-parent family payment and a customer information service. The 59 local offices are staffed by departmental staff. The 66 branch offices are run by branch managers employed under a contract for service by the Department to administer certain social welfare services to members of the public in their catchment area.

Owing to the sad and untimely death of the branch manager in Dunmanway, arrangements had to be put in place immediately to ensure continuity of service to customers. All claims originally catered for in Dunmanway were transferred to the Department's office in Bantry as an interim arrangement to ensure payments were not interrupted. The number of customers involved included approximately 230 in receipt of a jobseeker's payment and a further 120 on farm assist, back to work and pre-retirement allowance. Since the office closed, 20 customers have signed off the live register.

Arrangements were subsequently made to distribute the claims between five neighbouring branch offices in Bandon, Bantry, Clonakilty, Macroom and Skibbereen. The distribution of the claims took into account the proximity of the adjoining branch offices and the availability of public transport. Customers were facilitated on request to change from their designated branch office when another office proved more accessible. In cases where customers are living more than 16 km from their designated branch office, their signing arrangements were changed to quarterly signing as opposed to the normal monthly signing arrangements. Service to customers has not been interrupted by these arrangements and payments are continuing as they fall due.

It is open to people residing in the Dunmanway catchment area who become unemployed to make a new claim for job seeker's benefit or assistance at any of our offices convenient to them. They may also start the process on-line from the first day they become unemployed. However, they must attend one of the offices in the catchment area to complete the process.

If a customer becomes ill and wants to claim illness benefit, they can forward medical certificates directly to the illness benefit section in Dublin or to any of the social welfare branch offices or local offices convenient to them. A social welfare inspector is located in Dunmanway and this service is being maintained. The office of the inspector is open to the public on Tuesday mornings and deals with any information queries.

In keeping with normal procedures when a branch office post becomes vacant, a review of the delivery of social welfare services in the area served by Dunmanway branch office is being undertaken to determine the most effective way of providing these services in future. The review in respect of Dunmanway is expected to be completed in a month or so. I undertake to bring the concerns expressed by Senator McCarthy to the attention of the Minister and to inform the Senator duly of the Minister's decision.