Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider setting up an appointments system for people who wish to discuss various matters with his officials at local level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35021/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Staff in my Department offer a comprehensive and multifaceted service through our network of local and branch offices. Appointment systems are in place for many of the services that we offer: for example, appointments are arranged for customers who wish to see a facilitator to discuss educational and work opportunities or who are required to be interviewed by a social welfare inspector in connection with their claim. Customers attending to sign the unemployment register are given specific dates on which they are required to sign.

Large numbers of customers attend our offices on a daily basis in order to make applications for various schemes, to sign the unemployment register or to discuss elements of their claim and seek information on the Department's services. While delays can occur from time to time, every effort is made to deal with customers promptly. The majority of our local offices now offer a lunchtime service, which provides customers greater flexibility in attending the office.

It is not feasible to give every customer an appointment in view of the number of customers attending our local offices and the wide variety of services provided. Any customer who has a particular difficulty in attending at the local office or who has special needs should contact the manager so that an appropriate arrangement can be made to facilitate their particular circumstances.