Vol. 566 No. 1
773 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a LoCall one-stop-shop number will be put in place in order that all clients can contact her Department regarding queries and information in an efficient and inexpensive manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12036/03]
My Department is committed to providing a high quality and accessible service to customers through a range of contact channels, including the telephone. Most customers of my Department can contact their nearest social welfare local office at local call rates where their information needs will be met by a designated information officer.
In addition, my Department also provides three separate LoCall telephone contact numbers for the schemes and services available from our decentralised offices in Sligo, Longford and Letterkenny. The schemes in question are child and treatment benefits at 1890 400 400, maternity benefit at 1890 690 690 and pensions at 1890 500 000. The independent Social Welfare Appeals Office offers a LoCall service at 1890 74 74 34. Information material on all social welfare schemes and services, as well as application forms, may be requested via LoCall 1890 20 23 25 on a 24-hour, 7-day a week, basis or from the Department's website at www.welfare.ie.
Further development of telephone services is being considered in the context of my Department's plans for the improvement and development of customer service.
