Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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120. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the community welfare service will be reinstated to provide a walk-in community service in the newly refurbished unit in Killybegs, County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53692/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A CWO is available to meet with customers by appointment 5 days a week at the DSP office in Killybegs or where needed, arrange to visit a person’s house by appointment.

In addition any person who needs to access the Community Welfare Service (CWS) can call the national CWS freephone phoneline, which is available at 0818 60 70 80, to speak to a CWO or to make an appointment to meet at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home. In cases where urgent local action is required, such as an immediate cheque payment this is facilitated on the same day.

The application form, SWA1, is widely available. It can be downloaded at www.gov.ie. It is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also now be requested by emailing cwsforms@welfare.ie, by calling 0818 60 70 80 by or using the Request Application Form page available on www.gov.ie. The completed application form should be returned to the Department where it will be processed promptly.

The delivery of a locally based Community Welfare Service remains and will continue to remain a cornerstone of the service.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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121. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that posts for community welfare offices nationwide are not being filled (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53693/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Staffing levels have been maintained in the Community Welfare Service nationwide in recent years, even as demands on the service decreased. This reflects my commitment to continue to support the delivery of in-person services to citizens in over 50 Intreo Centres across the country as well as Social Welfare Branch Offices and Departmental public offices. There are currently over 400 staff working in the Community Welfare Service throughout the country and work is underway to fill vacancies which have arisen through various staff movements, including retirement and staff availing of mobility opportunities to other Departments.

The Department is taking steps to allocate additional staff to the CWS having received an increased staffing allocation during the estimates process. I expect recruitment for these posts to begin shortly.

The delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens across the country is a priority for the Government and for the Department of Social Protection.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.