Written answers

Wednesday, 20 May 2009

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Departmental Offices

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extra resources she plans to allocate to the social welfare offices in County Clare in order to deal with the surge in claims for assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20371/09]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has one departmentally staffed local office in Ennis, Co. Clare. In addition there are three branch offices located in Ennistymon, Kilrush and Tulla. Branch offices are not staffed by civil servants but operate under a contract for service on behalf of the Department. Claims from the branch offices in Co Clare are decided in Ennis Local Office as are claims from Gort Branch Office in Co. Galway. Under the terms of their contract Branch Managers are responsible for recruiting their own staff and are required to employ sufficient staff to deliver an efficient service to the public. The additional number of people applying for jobseeker payments has placed increased pressure on all of the Department's offices and on branch offices. Staff in these offices are working extremely hard to process claims as quickly as possible.

During the past year an additional 190 staff have been assigned to local offices throughout the country. Following a review late last year 3 additional staff were assigned to Ennis Local Office. Many offices are now at capacity in relation to accommodation and to support these offices the Department has set up four central decision units around the country and a further three are planned. In addition, since early in 2008 we have been examining all aspects of the work associated with the processing of claims and streamlining them wherever possible with a view to expediting decisions.

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she is establishing a full time social welfare office in a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20435/09]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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At present, social welfare customers in the Lucan area attend the Clondalkin Social Welfare Office to access social welfare services. However, the Department operates a special signing centre in Main Street, Lucan for local people signing the Live Register. The Department's Inspectors also operate from an office in Lucan town. The Dublin South Council has indicated its intention to provide civic offices for public bodies within the Adamstown Development. This proposed development presents a possible solution for the establishment of a local office to service the greater Lucan area. The Department has requested the Office of Public Works which has responsibility for the provision of all new office accommodation for the Department to pursue the matter further.

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