Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of days per week a community welfare officer is available in Ballinasloe; the number of days per week a social welfare inspector is available in Ballinasloe; if both posts now being shared between Ballinasloe and Loughrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38900/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Following the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department in 2011, the Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo centres, which provide a full range of services, including the CWS, generally available in one location.

Where the CWS has been restructured, alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. In general, this means that the frequency of available public clinics has increased, appointment systems are generally in operation, an improved phone service is available and alternative arrangements are in place for those who cannot travel, for example due to illness, including arranging a visit to the client’s home.

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.

The Department’s services in the east Galway area, including Ballinasloe, are based in the Intreo Centre in Loughrea, where a full range of the Department’s services (including the CWS) are available in one location.

Customers are encouraged to contact the service by phone, email or post in the first instance and in most cases their queries can be answered without them having to travel to the Intreo centre in person. However any customer who wishes to see an officer in Loughrea can make an appointment and they will typically be seen in a matter of a few days. Where the issue is urgent, they can be seen that day. If a person is unable to travel to Loughrea, for example due to illness, alternative arrangements are in place including arranging a house call, if necessary.

The Social Welfare Inspector covering Ballinasloe is based four days a week in Ballinasloe, and the one other day a week in Loughrea Intreo Centre.

The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, 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.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.