Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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146. To ask the Minister for Social Protection whether she is satisfied that there is a sufficient number of community welfare officers and executive officers in her Department to deal with queries from the public; if there is enough cover for staff when they are on holidays or leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39995/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A key objective of the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department on 1st October 2011 was to provide a streamlined and consistent service to the customer.

As part of this process and to support the Department’s activation commitments under the Pathways to Work Programme and the development of Intreo services nationally, it has been necessary to review the administration of all its services across its remit, including the CWS. Overall, this has resulted in a rebalancing of resources across the Department’s range of activities including the relocation of CWS staff to main centres, primarily Intreo offices, to play a vital role within the overall social welfare system in providing a responsive and flexible approach to meeting the needs of the disadvantaged.

People claiming supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement, which are usually reviewed once to twice yearly.

The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department and that the services provided are reconstituted, where necessary, to meet the changing needs of Irish society.

As an exception to the current moratorium on recruitment, the Department has limited sanction to recruit temporary clerical officers to cover critical long-term staff absences, and some staff availing of the Shorter Working Year Scheme.