Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2004
338 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if changes are proposed to the structure where persons on social welfare present themselves to the Garda station to sign on for their entitlements; his views on whether this is a valuable process for identifying those in need and keeping them in touch with the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27155/04]
View answerCurrently, recipients of unemployment payments who reside more than six miles from their nearest social welfare local or branch office sign a declaration at their local Garda station for the purpose of proving unemployment. This service was instituted, as a service to customers, at a time when transport was less frequent and travel was more difficult than today.
My Department is currently implementing a modernisation action plan aimed at improving customer service and at enhancing control. In this context the role of signing at Garda stations has been reviewed and it has been concluded that the service has long since ceased to be appropriate and is taking from, rather than adding to quality customer service.
The new signing arrangements, which balance customer service requirements with effective control measures, will be introduced in two phases. At the end of November 2004, all customers who currently sign on at Garda stations will self-certify and return their signing docket directly to the social welfare local-branch office.
In the early part of 2005 the following revised signing arrangements will apply: customers residing up to ten miles, 16 kilometres, from their social welfare local-branch office will attend that office once every four weeks for certification purposes; customers residing over ten miles from their local-branch office will self-certify every four weeks and attend that office every 12 weeks. These customers will be offered the flexibility to attend at the office on any day in a designated week. A flexible approach to certification will be adopted for customers on offshore islands and other remote areas of the country and they will not, as a general rule, be required to attend the local-branch office.
These changes represent a significant improvement in customer service by enabling all unemployed customers to have direct contact with their social welfare local branch office where they can be directed to the many educational and work supports available to the unemployed.
