Departmental Staff.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2009

Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Questions (376, 377, 378)

Damien English

Question:

430 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there are physical building constraints preventing the allocation of additional staff at the Trim, Kells and Navan social welfare offices to help alleviate the waiting times facing newly unemployed people’s applications for unemployment claims to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4840/09]

Damien English

Question:

431 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has plans to secure additional office space for the Trim, Kells and Navan social welfare offices locally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4841/09]

Written answers

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.

With the increase in the number of people applying for unemployment payments in particular, staff in social welfare offices have been working extremely hard to process claims as quickly as possible.

I know that processing times in some areas are still too long and I assure the Deputy that we are doing our best to reduce them. I appreciate that becoming unemployed is a very difficult time in a person's life and that they need to get access to financial and other supports as quickly as possible.

The Navan Social Welfare Local Office is staffed by employees of the Department. It is a relatively new office and there are no specific physical building constraints that have or that will prevent the allocation of additional staff resources there.

Additionally, internal renovations within that office are due to be undertaken shortly which will provide additional working space. Having regard to the increased live register and service demands, an additional four staff have been allocated to Navan Local Office, with a further 2 to be allocated. This will bring the total number of staff in the office to 30.

The offices in Trim and Kells are Branch Offices operated by private individuals on a contract basis. Within the terms of their contracts, branch managers are required to provide adequate staffing and suitable accommodation to allow the efficient performance of the work of the office. The Department reviews the provision of accommodation and staffing in branch offices from time to time of these offices under the terms and conditions of these contracts. The arrangements in the Trim and Kells offices are being kept under review.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

432 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of funding allocated to each Social Welfare Branch office in each of the past three years; how this amount is determined; how staffing levels are determined and funded; how often and on what basis contracts are renewed; how performance is appraised; and on what basis extra staff will be provided if there is a sharp rise in case-load. [5062/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

In addition to its own network of Social Welfare Local Offices my Department delivers a front-line service to the public through 62 Branch Offices. Each Branch Office is operated, under a contract for services, by a Branch Manager who acts as an agent for the Department in the district served by the Branch Office.

The method of remuneration for Branch Managers is agreed at the Branch Managers' Conciliation Council, which includes officials from the Department and representatives of the Branch Managers' Association, and is subject to approval by the Department of Finance.

Under current arrangements, payments made to Branch Managers comprise a basic payment, a Variable Costs Allowance and a Tiered Services Allowance. The rate of Variable Costs and Tiered Services Allowances payable are dependent on claim load and as such can differ from Office to Office.

All newly appointed Branch Managers are appointed on an initial twelve month contract. Subject to the provision of satisfactory service a permanent contract to age 65 may be awarded. In some instances specific time bound contracts have also been awarded. There is provision in all contracts for the review of arrangements for delivery of services.

Under the conditions of their contract, each Branch Manager is required to provide sufficient staffing to allow for the efficient performance of the work of the Office.

Branch Managers are subject to an annual performance appraisal by the Department. Performance levels are measured in relation to efficiency and effectiveness, customer service and the quality of work. In addition, performance is also monitored through regular control checks, audits and inspections, which are carried out in Branch Offices by departmental staff.

Details of the payments made, in the last three years, in respect of each Social Welfare Branch Office are as set out in the following table.

Payments made to Branch Managers in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Location	2006	2007	2008
	€	€	€
Ardee	103,413	116,661	151,013
Athy	112,543	143,230	194,417
Balbriggan	173,966	205,034	269,977	Closed November 2008
Ballinasloe	120,886	139,143	166,715
Ballinrobe	79,368	86,685	98,123
Ballybofey	123,750	141,597	182,974
Ballyshannon	86,931	101,558	118,990
Baltinglass	77,436	97,194	124,805
Bandon	82,752	95,926	120,028
Bantry	70,431	80,183	91,152
Ballyconnell	77,350	88,853	101,164
Birr	113,558	128,826	153,611
Boyle	72,098	80,593	92,969
Cahir	73,800	82,892	94,402
Carrickmacross	83,969	96,015	118,959
Carrick-On-Suir	124,682	136,920	161,806
Cashel	63,441	69,642	85,481
Castleblaney	101,281	113,534	132,723
Castlepollard	64,803	77,427	93,554
Castlerea	99,232	119,750	142,052
Claremorris	80,096	91,424	111,739
Clonakilty	78,908	90,223	99,295
Clones	55,794	66,974	79,964
Dingle	58,615	64,326	77,702
Donegal Town	84,665	105,050	116,840
Dungarvan	132,860	145,218	168,399
Dunmanway	57,080	38,629	0	Closed July 2007
Edenderry	89,971	109,271	135,583
Enniscorthy	204,554	235,656	288,945
Ennistymon	98,626	110,070	130,763
Fermoy	111,429	131,330	157,162
Gorey	156,825	185,918	231,236
Gort	84,416	106,159	112,748
Kells	85,333	97,235	122,060
Killarney	124,516	143,961	93,420	Closed June 2008
Killorglin	79,286	86,013	101,619
Killybegs	114,099	118,247	126,171
Kilmallock	110,458	123,868	164,119
Kilrush	93,190	105,741	119,006
Kinsale	88,653	98,709	112,277
Loughrea	9,078	—	0	Closed January 2006
Macroom	76,385	90,629	115,204
Mallow	102,548	118,821	140,978
Maynooth	181,755	219,813	301,897
Middleton	134,631	152,935	185,281
Monaghan	109,239	138,058	171,549
Muine Beag	84,477	103,248	124,091
Nenagh	121,342	140,828	169,122
Newmarket	76,599	94,256	113,492
Newross	158,015	183,812	224,169
Passage West	91,320	1,297	0	Closed October 2006
Portarlington	105,640	123,492	171,955
Portlaoise	123,421	158,899	221,920
Rathdowney	69,903	79,970	94,302
Roscommon	72,434	85,664	98,349
Roscrea	81,959	89,860	102,146
Skibbereen	81,096	88,041	97,099
Swinford	111,176	127,573	144,871
Thomastown	76,260	85,103	98,708
Tipperary	93,097	100,463	118,747
Trim	106,442	132,292	179,852
Tuam	153,296	180,358	215,966
Tubbercurry	67,588	76,409	92,787
Tulla	71,314	81,359	94,802
Tullow	79,569	100,201	118,849
Wicklow	114,534	130,046	155,160
Youghal	97,644	116,555	132,957