Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
340. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons for the closing of the community welfare clinic in the Third Age Centre in Summerhill (details supplied) and to detail the way those with restricted mobility or living in poverty can access similar services. [50929/12]
View answer341. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of maintaining the community welfare clinic in the Third Age Centre in Summerhill (details supplied) and to detail any savings generated from its proposed closure. [50930/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together.
My Department is very conscious of the need to provide efficient and effective customer services at a local level for all customers of the Department, having regard to the resources that are available. In this context, the staffing needs of all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed.
In recent months, the Department has restructured a number of Community Welfare Service (CWS) clinics across the country, including in the County Meath area, with the aim of providing an efficient service to all customers. Some smaller clinics have been closed where the level of demand for a service was low and a number of other clinics have also been identified for closure. Where a closure has occurred or is planned, an increased level of service has been made available to the customers from these areas at alternative locations in the general vicinity.
In the case of Summerhill, the clinic was open to the public for 1½ hours per week (2pm-3.30pm, every Wednesday). Customers who attended the Summerhill clinic will, from 3rd December 2012, be served in Enfield, which is approximately 10km from Summerhill. The CWS Clinic in Enfield is available each Wednesday for two hours - 10.00am – 12:00pm.
In the case of Clonard, the clinic was open to the public for 1 hour per week (11am-12pm every Wednesday). Customers who were dealt with in the Clonard clinic are now served in Enfield, which is approximately 14km from Clonard. The CWS clinic in Enfield, for customers from the Clonard area, is available on Thursdays from two hours 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Notices were issued to local Department of Social Protection Offices, Money Advice and Budgeting Service and Citizen’s Information Centres and posters have been displayed in both Summerhill and Clonard clinics advising customers of these changes.
Where clinics are closing, an emergency contact telephone number has been made available to customers who are unable to attend the alternative clinic.
The decision to close the Summerhill clinic was not made on the basis of cost savings which might accrue. Rather locating the service in Enfield will, I believe, enable customers to receive a more effective and comprehensive response from the CWS.
