Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
472. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection further to her decision to centralise community welfare officers to larger towns and close rural services, her plans to monitor the service; if the public will be asked to fill out a questionnaire at CWO clinics; her plans to receive feedback from the public who use these services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45837/13]
View answer526. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the centralisation of community welfare officers in Intreo offices, if the new offices will provide space for private discussion between a local resident and a community welfare officer. [46374/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 526 together.
A key objective of the transfer of the Community Welfare Service from the Health Service Executive to the Department on 1st October 2011 was to provide a streamlined and consistent service to the customer. As part of this process and to support the Department’s activation commitments under the Pathways to Work Programme and the development of Intreo services nationally, it has been necessary to review the administration of all its services across its remit including the community welfare service (CWS)
Overall, this is resulting in a rebalancing of resources across the Department’s range of activities including the relocation of some staff to main centres, primarily Intreo offices, which will provide a full range of services, including the CWS and these will, in general, be available in one location. Each Intreo office will have dedicated space provided for private discussion including a privacy booth and/or interview room.
Where the CWS has been re-structured, alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the community welfare service. In general, this means that the frequency of available public clinics has increased, an improved phone service is available and alternative arrangements are in place for those who cannot travel, for example due to illness, including arranging a visit to the client’s home if necessary.
The Department’s services are continually monitored and kept under review by management taking account of the views of staff, public representatives and users of the service to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service and that these services provided are reconstituted, where necessary, to meet the changing needs of Irish society.
