Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
99 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will report on the recent changes in arrangements that end signing on by social welfare recipients at local Garda stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28224/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, recipients of unemployment payments who reside more than six miles from their nearest social welfare local or branch office sign a declaration at their local Garda station for the purpose of proving unemployment. This service was instituted as a service to customers at a time when transport was less frequent and travel was more difficult than today.
My Department is currently implementing a modernisation action plan aimed at improving customer service and at enhancing control. In this context, the role of signing at Garda stations has been reviewed and it has been concluded that the service has long since ceased to be appropriate in providing customer service. The new signing arrangements, which balance customer service requirements with effective control measures, will be introduced in two phases. At the end of November 2004, all customers who currently sign on at Garda stations will self-certify and return their signing docket directly to the social welfare local-branch office.
In the early part of 2005 the following revised signing arrangements will apply. Customers residing up to ten miles or 16 km from their social welfare local-branch office will attend that office once every four weeks for certification purposes. Customers residing over ten miles from their local-branch office will self certify every four weeks and attend that office every 12 weeks. These customers will be offered the flexibility to attend at the office on any day in a designated week. A flexible approach to certification will be adopted for customers on offshore islands and other remote areas of the country and they will not, as a general rule, be required to attend the local-branch office.
These changes represent a significant improvement in customer service by enabling all unemployed customers have direct contact with their social welfare local-branch office where they can be directed to the many educational and work supports available to the unemployed.
