James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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380. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44656/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The delivery of crucial CWS to meet the challenges and the needs of vulnerable customers across the country remains a priority for my Department. The continued availability of locally based CWO is a cornerstone of the service.

CWOs can facilitate emergency and in-person meetings in 51 Intreo Centres, including at Newbridge Intreo Centre which covers the Naas area, across business hours, five days per week. Some CWOs are based in Social Welfare Branch Offices and provide appointments at those offices. In addition to meeting customers in Intreo Centres, Branch Offices and DSP offices, CWOs can facilitate an appointment with a person at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home if needed.

The CWS is aware of the crucial role played by St. Vincent De Paul Society (SVP) in society and there is excellent co-operation/liaison in place with them. There has been a series of engagements with SVP this year at both national and local levels to update that organisation on recent developments in the CWS. The Department has provided information on the recently publicised Additional Needs Payments for the SVP’s bulletin. There are plans for my Department and the SVP to participate in a webinar with SVP volunteers in the coming weeks and to release a video of the webinar to their volunteer network.

Following your representation, I have arranged for an official from my Department to contact the representative from SVP to discuss changes to the CWS delivery arrangements and to address the concerns raised.

On a point of information, the phone number quoted in the detail of the Question is no longer in operation. A freephone National Contact Phoneline for CWS (0818 60 70 80) was launched in June this year which further enhances access to CWS nationwide. This is a dedicated phoneline for customers located anywhere across the country seeking to get information on CWS and access to a CWO to seek assistance and support.

Since the national phoneline commenced operation, more and more customers are availing of the opportunity to have their issues resolved by this method rather than by calling into an office. Customers in Naas can access the service via this telephone number without the need to travel to Newbridge.

It is also important to note that a person no longer has to meet in person with a CWO to make a claim. A customer can make an application for assistance by completing a SWA1 form, which is widely available. It can be downloaded at www.gov.ie and is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also now be requested by emailing cwsforms@welfare.ie or by calling freephone 0818 60 70 80.

Customers can also request a SWA1 form by using the Request Application Form page available on www.gov.ie.

Applications for SWA assistance should be directed to:

An Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí / Department of Social Protection

Bosca PO 1107, Droichead Nua, Co Chill Dara, W12 T257

PO BOX 1107, Newbridge, Co Kildare, W12 T257

I trust this clarifies the matter.