Vol. 546 No. 3
51 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the steps being taken to settle the industrial dispute at his Department's office in Letterkenny; the date on which the dispute began; the cost to date of the advertisements published by his Department arising from the dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31592/01]
282 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the fact that full customer services, telephone queries and applications, are not available to existing clients and members of the public from his Department's children's allowance section in Letterkenny, County Donegal; the reason a full customer service is unavailable; when he expects normal service to be resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31374/01]
299 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason the Letterkenny office of his Department does not accept telephone calls from the public; if his attention has been drawn to the frustration that this is causing; when this dispute will be settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31876/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 282 and 299 together.
The dispute in the Department's office in Letterkenny arose initially out of the filling of three additional temporary posts in the office by the recruitment of staff on short-term contracts. The staff are required for a limited period for work associated with the introduction of a new system for the delivery of child benefit from that office. In addition to child benefit the office also administers treatment benefit which comprises dental and optical benefits and medical appliances. Having commenced their industrial action in relation to the recruitment of temporary staff the union then stated that its actions also covered their dissatisfaction with the implementation of a new computer system for the delivery of child benefit services.
The industrial action, which involves 157 clerical staff, commenced on 2 October 2001 with a ban on dealing with telephone and fax enquiries and a withdrawal of availability for overtime working. The action was extended on 30 October 2001 to include a ban on a range of other tasks and withdrawal of co-operation with the implementation of a new computer system for child benefit. While the industrial action is preventing people from making telephone and fax inquiries in relation to entitlements I would emphasise that claims continue to be processed and payments continue to be made.
As regards the cost of advertisements placed by the Department in respect of the dispute I can advise the Deputy that the cost to date is estimated at £34,000 or 43,171.09.
The CPSU position in relation to the settlement of the dispute is that an offer of a substantial package of promotions in the Letterkenny office must be made by the Department to bring about a cessation of the industrial action. The Department cannot meet demands such as those now being made by the CPSU.
To do so would have the effect of negating agreements already in place, thus introducing a system whereby changes designed to deliver improved services to our customers would have to be negotiated and paid for on an item by item basis. It would be impossible for the Department, which has over 2,600 staff in grades represented by the CPSU, in about 200 offices across the country, to manage improved service delivery and industrial relations on such an uncertain and confrontational basis.
