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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 5

Written Answers. - Mobile Information Unit.

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

91 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends providing a mobile information unit to service isolated rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18425/95]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias de Rossa)

My Department is committed to the provision of comprehensive information in a clear and simple manner as an essential element in the effective delivery of social welfare services. Our objective is to ensure that all citizens are fully aware of their rights and advised and assisted when the need arises to avail of the benefits or allowances to which they are entitled.

The regional management structure of my Department enables staff to identify the needs of customers at regional and local level and to tailor the delivery of services, including information services, to meet those needs. Information leaflets and booklets relating to each scheme are available from the network of 58 Social Welfare Local Offices located throughout the country. In addition, developments and improvements in social welfare services are widely advertised using an appropriate mix of media at local and national level. Selective use is also made of "Free-phone" services to provide information, for example, at budget time or on the introduction of new schemes.

In addition, the National Social Services Board provides information on the full range of social services including social welfare through its network of some 81 Citizen's Information Centres, many of them located in rural areas. My Department has also provided £250,000 in this year's budget for the National Social Services Board to develop computerised integrated social services information which will be available to Citizen's Information Centres and other voluntary information providers.
The National Social Services Board has of course provided a mobile information service since 1989 and their mobile unit visited over 100 locations last year. Additional funding was provided in 1995 to enable the NSSB to expand this service to isolated areas and a second mobile unit was introduced in August of this year.
My Department also provides funding to a wide range of voluntary information providers.
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