Written answers
Tuesday, 23 May 2023
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Community Welfare Services
Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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457. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of community welfare officers allocated to County Tipperary; and the number of vacant posts, broken down on a county and office basis. [24194/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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CWOs are physically on site daily in over 50 Intreo Centres across the country where they are available to be seen without an appointment, during business hours, Monday to Friday including at the Clonmel and Thurles Intreo Centres. 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.
There are currently 14 Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) allocated to County Tipperary.
While local face-to-face engagement with clients continues to be a cornerstone of the community welfare service, it is important to mention that a person does not need to meet with a CWO to make an application and any person who needs to access the Community Welfare Service (CWS) can call the CWS National Contact Phoneline at 0818 60 70 80, to make an appointment or to speak directly to a CWO. A person can speak with a CWO over the phone if they do not wish to travel to meet with a CWO in person. CWS staff working on the phoneline are dealing with approximately 5,000 callers per month. This service is proving very popular with customers in rural areas, who can have their needs met without the requirement to travel.
The following schedule details the number of CWO vacant posts nationwide, broken down by county and office:
County | Office | No. Of Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Cavan | Cavan | 1 |
| Carlow | Carlow | 1 |
| Cork | Mallow | 1 |
| Cork | Cork City | 1 |
| Dublin | Coolock | 1 |
| Dublin | Parnell St | 1 |
| Dublin | Parkgate St | 1 |
| Dublin | Finglas | 1 |
| Dublin | Tallaght | 1 |
| Dublin | Dun Laoghaire | 1 |
| Dublin | Balbriggan | 1 |
| Dublin | Swords | 1 |
| Donegal | Dungloe | 1 |
| Galway | Galway | 1 |
| Kerry | Tralee | 1 |
| Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 1 |
| Laois | Portlaoise | 1 |
| Limerick | Newcastle West | 1 |
| Mayo | Ballina | 0.5 |
| Roscommon | Roscommon | 1 |
| Wexford | Enniscorthy | 1 |
| Wicklow | Bray | 1 |
| Wicklow | Arklow | 1 |
| Locum | Nationwide | 5 |
| Total | 27.5 | 27.5 |
Work is underway to fill vacancies promptly which have arisen through various staff movements, including retirements and staff availing of mobility opportunities to other Departments.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
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