Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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646. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of allocated or seconded staff to community welfare sections in each INTREO office to deal with the additional applications for supplementary welfare allowances, in tabular form. [54458/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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678. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if any staff have been re-assigned to deal with the backlog in applications for the exceptional needs’ payment. [55013/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 646 and 678 together.

From early November 30 Social Welfare Inspectors have been temporarily assigned to the Community Welfare Service to assist with claims processing.

In addition, having received an increased staffing allocation during the estimates process, recruitment has commenced in the Department for additional staff to be assigned to the Community Welfare Service.

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.