Written answers
Tuesday, 28 February 2017
Department of Social Protection
Community Welfare Services Provision
Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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449. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the location of drop-in community welfare clinics in County Donegal; if consideration will be given to opening a clinic in the Bunbeg and Derrybeg area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10398/17]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Social Protection keeps the operation of all services, including the Community Welfare Service (CWS) under regular review to ensure they continue to remain fit for purpose. The table at Appendix 1 details the CWS clinics currently operating in Donegal.
There are no plans at this time to open a clinic in either Bunbeg or Derrybeg. However, if a person is unable to travel to any of our existing clinic locations, for example due to illness, a member of staff may arrange to visit the client’s home to provide any assistance required.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
APPENDIX 1
Donegal CWS Clinics 2017
Clinic | Address | Phone | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arranmore Island | Health Centre, Arranmore Island, Co. Donegal | (074) 9520105 | Last Tuesday of each month from Tuesday 28th July 2015 (depending on Ferry) 10.30am - 11.30 |
| Tuesday: 10.30 - 12.00 | |||
| Ballybofey | Navenny House, Department of Social Protection, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal | (074) 9130023 | Thursday: 10.00 - 12.00 |
| Ballybofey Rent Unit | Community Welfare Service, Department of Social Protection, Navenny House, Ballybofey, Co Donegal | (074) 9131154 | Phone in - Appointment only |
| Monday: 11.00 - 13.00 | |||
| Ballyshannon | DSP Office, Beleek Rd, Ballyshannon | (071) 9852418 | Friday: 10.30 - 12.30 |
| Buncrana | Department of Social Protection, Inner Relief Rd, Ardaravan, Buncrana, Co Donegal | (074) 9364516(074) 9364515 | By Appointment |
| Bundoran | Health Centre Station Road, Bundoran, Co. Donegal | (071) 9842449 | Thursday: 10.30 - 12.30 |
| Carndonagh | Public Service Centre, Department of Social Protection, Malin Road, Carndonagh, Co Donegal | (074) 9329484 | Monday: 11.00 - 13.00 |
| Monday: 11.00 - 12.30 | |||
| Donegal Town | Public Service Centre, Department of Social Protection, Drumlonagher, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal | (074) 9724485 | Friday: 11.00 - 13.00 |
| Dunfanaghy | Dunfanaghy Heath Centre, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal | (074) 9136750 | Wednesday: 10.00 - 12.00 |
| Dungloe | Public Service Office, Department of Social Protection, Gweedore Road, Dungloe, Co. Donegal | (074) 9559206 | Thursday: 10.00 - 12.00 |
| Glenties | Primary Care Centre, Glenties, Co. Donegal | (074) 9551659 | Wednesday: 10.00 - 13.00 |
| Killybegs | Atlantic Marine HSE Office, Killybegs, Co. Donegal | (074) 9741030 | Wednesday: 11.00 - 13.00 |
| Letterkenny | Letterkenny Intreo Centre | (074) 9194930 | Tuesday & Thursday: 10.00 - 12.00 |
| Lifford | HSE Office, Coneyburrow Rd, Lifford, Co. Donegal | (074) 9141691(074) 9141706 | Wednesday: 11.00 - 13.00 |
| Milford | Public Service Centre Department of Social Protection, Milford, Co. Donegal | (074) 9163446 | Wednesday: 10.30 - 13.00 |
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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450. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending community employment eligibility to persons signing for jobseeker's credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10407/17]
Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Persons signing for credits only (i.e. not in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment) are not eligible to participate on Community Employment (CE) schemes. They may, however, be eligible to avail of other up-skilling opportunities, for example, through Education and Training Board (ETB) training for unemployed people. Although not eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking the course, they may receive some support for expenses on travel, meals and accommodation.
Persons signing for credits for six months or more are also entitled to participate on ETB-run VTOS courses, subject to availability. Springboard and Skillnets courses for unemployed people, funded through the Department of Education and Skills, are also open to people regardless of their social welfare status. In addition, persons signing on for credits for 12 months or longer, over the previous 18 months, are eligible to participate on Momentum courses through SOLAS, provided that they have been actively seeking work.
Many other services are also available to people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment. For example, employment services, such as advice on job-search activities and the use of online job search tools, are available to people if they register with my Department’s Intreo offices regardless of their social welfare status.
The Government is committed to supporting as many people as possible to participate more fully in employment and to become more self-sufficient by providing supports that address barriers they may encounter in finding and sustaining employment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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