Written answers

Thursday, 3 February 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Community Welfare Services

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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53. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if call-in facilities for community welfare services will be provided at Ballybay, Clones, Castleblayney, Carrickmacross and Monaghan town, County Monaghan on a weekly basis in 2022. [4898/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Community Welfare Service (CWS) of the Department of Social Protection delivers the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system. This scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.

Following the recent easing of public health restrictions, outreach services have resumed in Castleblayney, Carrickmacross, Clones and Monaghan town from 31/1/22. The location of the outreach service in Carrickmacross and Castleblayney has moved to the Social Welfare Branch Offices in those towns.

The schedule for outreach Community Welfare Services in Co. Monaghan is as follows from 31/1/22:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Monaghan Walk in service:all day Walk in service: all day Appointment service all day
Clones Walk in service: 10am - 12pm. Afternoon by appointment.
Carrickmacross Walk in service: all day Walk in service: all day
Castleblayney Walk in service: 10am - 12pm. Afternoon by appointment.
In addition to the dedicated outreach times highlighted above, Social Welfare Branch Offices in County Monaghan are open five days per week and any person who needs to contact or access the Community Welfare Service can call our phone line or attend at an office, either to speak directly to a CWO or to make an appointment for a consultation on the same day with a CWO. Consultations with a CWO are available via phone, at our offices and if the need arises a direct home visit appointment can be arranged depending on the customer’s need and public health restrictions. All applications for assistance are dealt with promptly by my officials.

It is important to note that as part of my continued commitment to improve the Community Welfare Service in County Monaghan and across the country, customers no longer have to meet in person with a Community Welfare Officer to make a claim. This change is a significant enhancement to the service offered to customers as it means, for instance, that those who require community welfare assistance in Ballybay or any other location in County Monaghan no longer need to visit an outreach location or wait to make a claim or wait to access the service.

These initiatives that I have put in place continue to ensure that the service is easily accessible and responsive to customer needs, particularly in a time of crisis or emergency.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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