Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way he intends to relocate or redeploy staff and resources within his Department to meet the increasing demands caused by the economic downturn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44068/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The staffing needs in my Department are kept under constant review to ensure that best use is made of all available resources. Since May 2008, some 450 additional posts have been assigned to the Department to deal with the significant increase in claims for the schemes operated by the Department. In addition, a significant number of staff within the Department have been redeployed to critical front-line positions.

It is also recognised that the provision of additional staff in itself is not the only appropriate way to deal with the rising claim load. Since early 2008 all aspects of the work associated with the processing of claims has been examined and streamlined wherever possible without, of course, compromising our scheme controls. In this context, the Department has introduced a range of process improvement initiatives regarding claims for Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit. One of the most significant initiatives, aimed at reducing queuing times and waiting times, involves the customer attending the office by appointment at which time the claim is taken and decided.

In addition, a range of other process improvements have been introduced which include:

§ A more streamlined procedure for claimants moving to jobseeker's allowance when their jobseekers benefit expires;

§ A streamlined process for people who had a claim in the previous two

years;

§ Application forms for the jobseeker schemes are now available on the

Department's website. This means that anyone who wants to make a

claim can print the form at home and bring it to the local office completed. This helps reduce queuing times;

§ More straightforward procedures for providing evidence of identity and

address have been introduced;

§ The Department has also simplified processing methods for some

customers who work casually, part-time or on systematic short-time work.

Question No. 260 answered with Question No. 58.

Question No. 261 answered with Question No. 67.