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
|
|