Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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468. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to reports that the social welfare officer has been removed from Carrick-on-Suir; her views on whether it is appropriate that locals are now expected to travel to Clonmel for services; her plans to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58044/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A Community Welfare Officer (CWO) is available to meet with customers by appointment 5 days a week at the Carrick-on-Suir Social Welfare Branch Office or where needed, can 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 number 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 can be 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 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.