Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will open a social welfare office in Ashbourne, County Meath to meet the needs of social welfare claimants in Ashbourne, Ratoath and Dunshaughlin in view of the large increase in population in these towns in recent years and the significant number of people in this area who have lost their jobs and have to travel to social welfare offices in Navan, Swords or Finglas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2873/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department delivers a frontline service through a network of 61 local offices and 62 branch offices countrywide. The main services provided from these offices include jobseeker supports, one-parent family payment and an information service.

Each office provides Social Welfare services to people living in specified catchment areas. People living in or around Ashbourne making a claim for jobseeker's payment are required to attend their nearest local office at Finglas and people living in or around Ratoath or Dunshaughlin areas are required to attend the local office at Navan. Thereafter, they are only required to attend the office once every four weeks to prove unemployment.

Local and branch offices are under considerable pressure at present because of the increasing level of claims. Every effort is being made to process claims as quickly as possible. This includes the prioritisation of work, assignment of additional resources including staffing and overtime. Following the latest review of the staffing levels in local offices, an additional 115 staff are being assigned. This includes an additional 4 staff for the Navan Local Office and an additional 3 staff for Finglas Local Office. The Department has no plans at present to set up a local office in Ashbourne.