Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 936: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the allocation made by her Department for community welfare office staff to the Health Service Executive in the Waterford and Wexford local health office areas respectively; the proportion this allocation is intended to represent of total CWO staffing costs; and the proportion this currently represents. [1052/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) and Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) schemes are administered by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE) on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The operational arrangements for the processing of applications and the payment to qualifying individuals, is a matter for the respective community welfare division areas.

The administration costs of the SWA and BSCFA schemes are met by the department. Funding for salaries of community welfare officers is based on the proportion of time they spend administering these schemes. Salaries for administration costs in the Waterford/Wexford area are funded on the basis of that the community welfare service in this area spends 73% of its time administering these schemes. Funding is provided centrally to the HSE which is responsible for the allocation of budgets to individual community welfare divisions.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 937: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of staff in Maynooth labour exchange, County Kildare dealing with jobseeker applications on 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2009; and if she will appoint additional staff to deal with the 100% increase in the live register at the Maynooth exchange in the past 12 months. [1094/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department delivers a frontline service through a network of 61 Local Offices and 62 Branch Offices countrywide. Local Offices are staffed by civil servants, whereas Branch Offices operate under a contract for service to the Department. Branch Managers are obliged under their contract to provide sufficient clerical assistance to allow for the efficient performance of the work of the office.

As of the 1st January 2008, the Branch Manager in Maynooth had 3 full time and 1 part-time clerical staff in his employment. During 2008 an additional 2 full time staff were recruited to cater for the increased claim load in the Branch Office. The Branch Manager concerned has indicated to the Department that he is reviewing his staffing requirements for 2009. All claims taken in Branch Offices are decided in the parent Local Office, which in the case of Maynooth Branch Office is Ballyfermot Local Office. During 2008, 2 additional staff were assigned to the Local Office to deal with the increasing Live Register.