Vol. 535 No. 1
447 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will reverse the decision to close the social welfare office in Crumlin, Dublin 12, in view of the concerns of many residents (details supplied). [11734/01]
It is proposed to relocate the Social Welfare inspectors who are currently based at Sundrive Road, Crumlin, to a new local office and regional headquarters, now under construction at a site between Bishop Street and Kevin Street. This new local office will amalgamate existing local offices at Werburgh Street and Victoria Street. The development is due for completion later this year.
The new office will provide modern facilities for customers and staff with improved comfort and privacy and will be fully accessible for people with disabilities. The Crumlin office is essentially for the accommodation of inspectors and interviews with customers which could not be carried out there in any event. The office has no access for people with disabilities, nor would it be feasible to provide them, having regard to the characteristics of the site. Elderly people and parents with small children have had difficulty with the stairway. The new office, which will accommodate the full range of local office services and inspections, will be a considerable improvement for customers in the areas concerned. Information on social welfare services will continue to be available to citizens at a community information centre, which is funded by my Department and which is next door to the Sundrive Road office.
