David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sure, in line with the traditions of the Labour Party, that the Minister would like people to be inside or outside of the office making their feelings known.

The rolling out of Intreo offices has been a very good idea and I welcome the improved service. At present when people attend their social welfare office they will encounter long queues, a lack of privacy, an inability to get information and a rushed service. The Minister will be aware that the same applies to community welfare offices which mostly provide clinics. I know that the Waterford community welfare office opens for three days a week for just two hours and people wishing to avail of its services must collect a ticket and wait in line. Unfortunately, people are not always seen on the day so must seek assistance from their politicians.

I welcome the extra posts for medical assessors. It is an important measure but we must wait to see if it will improve the situation.

The ability for people to get proper medical documentation to support their claim is an issue. In some cases they must go to a consultant for the documentation. One of the problems that I have discovered is that medical assessors are increasingly placing less value on letters from GPs. Sometimes there might be a good reason for doing so because GPs write letters-----