Written answers

Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Departmental Staff

9:00 pm

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there are physical building constraints preventing the allocation of additional staff at the Trim, Kells and Navan social welfare offices to help alleviate the waiting times facing newly unemployed people's applications for unemployment claims to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4840/09]

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has plans to secure additional office space for the Trim, Kells and Navan social welfare offices locally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4841/09]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.

With the increase in the number of people applying for unemployment payments in particular, staff in social welfare offices have been working extremely hard to process claims as quickly as possible.

I know that processing times in some areas are still too long and I assure the Deputy that we are doing our best to reduce them. I appreciate that becoming unemployed is a very difficult time in a person's life and that they need to get access to financial and other supports as quickly as possible.

The Navan Social Welfare Local Office is staffed by employees of the Department. It is a relatively new office and there are no specific physical building constraints that have or that will prevent the allocation of additional staff resources there.

Additionally, internal renovations within that office are due to be undertaken shortly which will provide additional working space. Having regard to the increased live register and service demands, an additional four staff have been allocated to Navan Local Office, with a further 2 to be allocated. This will bring the total number of staff in the office to 30.

The offices in Trim and Kells are Branch Offices operated by private individuals on a contract basis. Within the terms of their contracts, branch managers are required to provide adequate staffing and suitable accommodation to allow the efficient performance of the work of the office. The Department reviews the provision of accommodation and staffing in branch offices from time to time of these offices under the terms and conditions of these contracts. The arrangements in the Trim and Kells offices are being kept under review.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of funding allocated to each Social Welfare Branch office in each of the past three years; how this amount is determined; how staffing levels are determined and funded; how often and on what basis contracts are renewed; how performance is appraised; and on what basis extra staff will be provided if there is a sharp rise in case-load. [5062/09]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In addition to its own network of Social Welfare Local Offices my Department delivers a front-line service to the public through 62 Branch Offices. Each Branch Office is operated, under a contract for services, by a Branch Manager who acts as an agent for the Department in the district served by the Branch Office.

The method of remuneration for Branch Managers is agreed at the Branch Managers' Conciliation Council, which includes officials from the Department and representatives of the Branch Managers' Association, and is subject to approval by the Department of Finance.

Under current arrangements, payments made to Branch Managers comprise a basic payment, a Variable Costs Allowance and a Tiered Services Allowance. The rate of Variable Costs and Tiered Services Allowances payable are dependent on claim load and as such can differ from Office to Office.

All newly appointed Branch Managers are appointed on an initial twelve month contract. Subject to the provision of satisfactory service a permanent contract to age 65 may be awarded. In some instances specific time bound contracts have also been awarded. There is provision in all contracts for the review of arrangements for delivery of services.

Under the conditions of their contract, each Branch Manager is required to provide sufficient staffing to allow for the efficient performance of the work of the Office.

Branch Managers are subject to an annual performance appraisal by the Department. Performance levels are measured in relation to efficiency and effectiveness, customer service and the quality of work. In addition, performance is also monitored through regular control checks, audits and inspections, which are carried out in Branch Offices by departmental staff.

Details of the payments made, in the last three years, in respect of each Social Welfare Branch Office are as set out in the following table.

Payments made to Branch Managers in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Location200620072008
Ardee103,413116,661151,013
Athy112,543143,230194,417
Balbriggan173,966205,034269,977Closed November 2008
Ballinasloe120,886139,143166,715
Ballinrobe79,36886,68598,123
Ballybofey123,750141,597182,974
Ballyshannon86,931101,558118,990
Baltinglass77,43697,194124,805
Bandon82,75295,926120,028
Bantry70,43180,18391,152
Ballyconnell77,35088,853101,164
Birr113,558128,826153,611
Boyle72,09880,59392,969
Cahir73,80082,89294,402
Carrickmacross83,96996,015118,959
Carrick-On-Suir124,682136,920161,806
Cashel63,44169,64285,481
Castleblaney101,281113,534132,723
Castlepollard64,80377,42793,554
Castlerea99,232119,750142,052
Claremorris80,09691,424111,739
Clonakilty78,90890,22399,295
Clones55,79466,97479,964
Dingle58,61564,32677,702
Donegal Town84,665105,050116,840
Dungarvan132,860145,218168,399
Dunmanway57,08038,6290Closed July 2007
Edenderry89,971109,271135,583
Enniscorthy204,554235,656288,945
Ennistymon98,626110,070130,763
Fermoy111,429131,330157,162
Gorey156,825185,918231,236
Gort84,416106,159112,748
Kells85,33397,235122,060
Killarney124,516143,96193,420Closed June 2008
Killorglin79,28686,013101,619
Killybegs114,099118,247126,171
Kilmallock110,458123,868164,119
Kilrush93,190105,741119,006
Kinsale88,65398,709112,277
Loughrea9,0780Closed January 2006
Macroom76,38590,629115,204
Mallow102,548118,821140,978
Maynooth181,755219,813301,897
Middleton134,631152,935185,281
Monaghan109,239138,058171,549
Muine Beag84,477103,248124,091
Nenagh121,342140,828169,122
Newmarket76,59994,256113,492
Newross158,015183,812224,169
Passage West91,3201,2970Closed October 2006
Portarlington105,640123,492171,955
Portlaoise123,421158,899221,920
Rathdowney69,90379,97094,302
Roscommon72,43485,66498,349
Roscrea81,95989,860102,146
Skibbereen81,09688,04197,099
Swinford111,176127,573144,871
Thomastown76,26085,10398,708
Tipperary93,097100,463118,747
Trim106,442132,292179,852
Tuam153,296180,358215,966
Tubbercurry67,58876,40992,787
Tulla71,31481,35994,802
Tullow79,569100,201118,849
Wicklow114,534130,046155,160
Youghal97,644116,555132,957

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