Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will overhaul the modus operandi of community welfare officers in order that they revert to holding assistance clinics in local communities, rather than being centrally based in Department offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50519/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The delivery of crucial and locally based community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of people across the country is a priority for me and for my Department. The Community Welfare Service (CWS) continues to provide a flexible service to meet the different needs of people, who may find themselves in a financially difficult or vulnerable situation. It is important that this service is easily accessible and responsive to our client’s needs.

For that reason, Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) are on site daily in over 50 locations across the country where they are available to be seen without an appointment, during business hours, Monday to Friday. In addition to meeting people in Intreo Centres 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 or indeed where facilities are in place, at their local Social Welfare Branch Office. These arrangements ensure people who need a service have comprehensive options for accessing the service in person.

While local face-to-face engagement with people 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 CWS can call the National CWS freephone number 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. There is a high uptake of this service which allows people to have their needs met without the requirement to travel.

A person can make an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) by completing a SWA1 form which is available in all Intreo Centres and Social Welfare Branch Offices. This form can also be requested by calling freephone 0818 60 70 80 or at this link www.eforms.gov.ie/en/forms/5. The completed application form together with any supporting documentation can be returned directly to my Department where the claim will be processed quickly.

As you may be aware, a person can also now apply online for an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) via www.MyWelfare.ie. This service means that there is no requirement for a person to travel to make a claim if that is their preference.

Where it is clear that a person has an urgent or immediate need, every effort is made to ensure that the claim is processed on the same day. CWOs are very experienced and can generally assess when a case is so urgent that it requires an immediate response. They have the facility to issue an immediate manual cheque payment to clients and many clients who present to see a CWOs in person, or who organise an appointment, receive a payment at the time that they are seen.

In light of a number of representations, I will keep this matter under review.

I trust this clarifies the matter.