Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 8

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.

Bernard Allen

Question:

48 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will make a statement on the proposals to centralise unemployment benefit payments by his Department; and the implications, if any, it will have for staffing levels in rural employment exchanges.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

I am sure the Deputy is aware of the major programme of change and modernisation which has been running in my Department for a number of years now. An important feature of this programme is a new computer system which will provide a fully integrated approach to unemployment, illness and supplementary welfare payments and which will facilitate the further development of the one-stop-shop initiative for our customers. This system will start to come on-stream towards the end of this year.

An integral part of these developments is the removal of cash payments from our Social Welfare local offices to post offices. Claims will continue to be processed by our Social Welfare local offices and these offices will become more of a focal point for customers of social welfare services. This development will provide the flexibility to reduce the frequency at which people are required to attend at offices for signing-on and also to improve the level of service for them.

Naturally, these developments will involve changes in administrative arrangements and these are still being worked out. The implications of these measures will be discussed with staff in the usual manner.