Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
90. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to ensure the social welfare office will remain in place in Castlepollard, County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8448/18]
View answerThe Department currently has 58 Social Welfare Branch Offices at various locations throughout the country. Each Branch Office is operated and managed, under a contract for services, by a Branch Manager who is required to act as an agent for the Department in the area served by the office. Branch Office managers operate on a contract for service and are independent contractors. The Contract for the delivery of Branch Office services in Castlepollard expired on the 9th of February 2018. However, I decided, on an exceptional basis, to offer to extend the term of the contract of the incumbent Branch Manager for a maximum period of 12 months from the date of expiration and he has accepted this extension.
The Department is currently engaging in a process to enhance services across the branch office network, which includes Castlepollard, in order to ensure that an efficient and quality public service which properly reflects customer needs is provided.
