Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 April 2016
56. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how she will assess the impact on the changes in service provision arising from the withdrawal of Community Welfare Service access to customers; when such impact assessments will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7065/16]
View answerFollowing the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department in 2011, the Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo centres, which provide a full range of services, including the CWS, generally available in one location.
Significant improvements in claim processing through the development of the Integrated Decisions model has considerably reduced dependence on supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) by people awaiting decisions on their claims.
Where the CWS has been restructured alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. For example, where a customer is unable to travel to a clinic, alternative arrangements are available including improved phone services and if necessary arranging a visit to the client’s home.
People claiming supports under the SWA scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement. In County Kildare the numbers relying on support under rent supplement will further reduce with the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continually reviewed, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
