The increase in the Live Register over the past number of years has placed additional pressures on my Department's local offices in terms of providing a satisfactory service to the public.
As a consequence of this and of the transfer of functions and staff from the HSE and from FÁS to the Department, some of the Department's buildings require refurbishment, extensions or, in some cases, replacement. The Department relies on the Office of Public Works (OPW) for the provision of new office accommodation. To this end it has requested the OPW as a matter of priority to acquire new local office accommodation in a number of locations throughout the country to enable it deliver a satisfactory service to the public. Priority locations include Loughrea, Balbriggan, Swords, Castlebar and Newbridge.
The Department has no plans to privatise offices delivering social welfare services.