Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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553. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which she can foresee her ability to address further issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic in the course of the next twelve months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25531/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has a comprehensive business continuity management programme in place for many years through which the Department aims to maintain delivery of key services during and following a disruption to business.

The focus of the Department's contingency plan is to ensure the safety and welfare of customers and staff and to ensure that essential services continue to be provided.

The Department's agile response to the public health crisis caused by Covid-19 demonstrates the robustness and resilience of the Department’s contingency plans. These plans are adaptable and will allow the Department to continue to respond as events evolve.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department is playing a crucial role in helping our society and economy cope and recover from this public health crisis. To this end, an Organisation Transition Board has also been established to look at how the Department organises its work and what changes will need to be made to ensure the continued provision of services while adhering to public health guidelines.