Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason residents in Dublin North are required to collect their supplementary welfare allowance in the arrears support unit centre in Gardiner Street, 30 km away from one of the largest towns in Dublin North; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36206/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Office of Public Works has responsibility for the acquisition and maintenance of office accommodation for the Department of Social Protection. Accordingly, my Department has requested that the Office acquire suitable accommodation in Balbriggan. Until accommodation is available in Balbriggan, supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) payments for parts of the Balbriggan area of North County Dublin, is administered from an office of the Department located at 77 Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin 1. The location was chosen as it is on a direct bus route from the Balbriggan area to facilitate, in so far as is possible, customer appointments with the community welfare service.

Once approved, SWA payments are generally posted directly to the recipient's home address, issued to the post office of the customer's choice by postal draft or lodged directly to the customer's bank account. Applications for SWA can also be made by post and queries can be dealt with by telephone, thus reducing the need for the customer to visit the office. It is the Department's intention to have community welfare services, including SWA, provided in Balbriggan as soon as suitable accommodation is available.