Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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132. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a community welfare office in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon will be resuming clinic appointments; the number of community welfare offices across County Roscommon that have not yet resumed clinics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18458/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Community Welfare Service of my Department 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.

A Community Welfare Officer (CWO) is available to meet with customers at the Intreo Centre in Roscommon Town five days per week. Customers can also meet with a CWO by appointment at the outreach location in Ballaghaderreen from Monday to Friday.

Any person who needs to speak directly to a Community Welfare Officer can also do so by telephone or email. It is important to note that as part of my continued commitment to improve the CWS in County Roscommon and across the country, customers no longer have to meet in person with a CWO to make a claim. 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. All applications for assistance are dealt with promptly by officials.

This change is a significant enhancement to the service offered to customers as it means that those who require community welfare assistance no longer need to visit an Intreo Centre or 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 hope this clarifies the matter.