Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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84. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will re-allocate community welfare officers back into the community in which they were originally placed, if not full-time but at least for two to three days a week (details supplied). [59203/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Community Welfare Officers (CWO) are available to facilitate urgent and in-person meetings in over 50 Intreo Centres nationwide, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. In addition to meeting citizens in Intreo Centres, Branch Offices and DSP offices, CWOs can facilitate an appointment within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home.

Any person who needs to access the Community Welfare Service (CWS) can call the national CWS freephone line at 0818 60 70 80, to make an appointment. This appointment can be arranged within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home. A client does not however have to attend an office in person to make a claim, or to make an enquiry about a claim. If it is more convenient for them, a client can speak directly with a CWO when they call the CWS freephone line.

Their case can also be escalated if urgent local action is required, such as an immediate cheque payment. Where it is clear a person has an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure they receive a payment on the same day.

A person can make an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance by completing a SWA1 form, which 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 or by calling 0818 60 70 80. Clients can also request a SWA1 form by 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 very quickly.

There are 412 people across all grades in the Community Welfare Service. In light of the increased level of applications, as part of the Budget I secured agreement for some 74 additional staff to be assigned to the Community Welfare Service. Recruitment has commenced for these additional staff and it is anticipated that the additional staff will be in place by Q1 2023.

In the interim, until the staff have been recruited, 30 Social Welfare Inspectors have been temporarily reassigned to the Community Welfare Service since the start of November to assist with claims processing.

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.