Vol. 406 No. 3
193 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the one-stop-shop he recently announced will apply at the Newcastle West employment exchange, County Limerick; whether it will be responsible for all social welfare recipients in the County Limerick area currently covered by the Newcastle West and Listowel offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The social welfare services office in Newcastle West is already carrying out many of the functions of a one stop shop. The office is linked to my Department's computer inquiry system, INFONET, so that clients can now get up-to-date information on their social welfare claims and entitlements. Medical certificates for sickness benefit claims may also be handed in at the office where they are entered directly to the computer system so that payments can be made automatically.
The social welfare services office in Listowel is also linked to INFONET and accepts medical certificates. In addition, there is an information officer in the office to deal with clients' social welfare inquiries. There is also a social welfare officer in this office to carry out on-the-spot assessment interviews for means-tested schemes.
Both offices will continue to be responsible for the provision of social welfare services in their respective areas.
The one stop shop proposals involve building on the very considerable progress already achieved in improving access to information and services at local level. It is envisaged that the range of local functions carried out at these two offices will be expanded.
