Written answers

Tuesday, 29 November 2016

Department of Social Protection

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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348. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will reinstate a social welfare inspector for the Tuam area as a matter of urgency (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37598/16]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There are two Social Welfare Inspector posts in Tuam and they cover the whole North Galway area. A vacancy in one of the posts arose as a result of the transfer of an Inspector to Galway City in August 2016. My Department, like all Government departments and agencies, is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget.

Within these constraints, my Department is focusing on prioritising the filling of critical posts. The staffing needs for all offices of 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.

However, it has not been possible to date to fill all posts that have become vacant, including this post in Tuam. This position is under ongoing review.

The most urgent and longest outstanding claims in Tuam are being prioritised at present. If a customer is under financial pressure while awaiting a decision on a claim, it is open to them to contact the local Community Welfare Officer regarding Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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