The Pathways to Work document states that the introduction of the new Intreo service is a multi-annual project with all Department local offices upgraded to full Intreo offices by the end of 2014.
The delivery of the Intreo service comprises a number of elements. The main elements being:
i.- The integration of the various welfare decision making processes to speed up decision making and minimise recourse to supplementary welfare payments.
ii. - The implementation of a systematic activation process based on profiling of clients.
iii. - The delivery of a ‘one-stop-shop’ service from an integrated office location.
The first ten Intreo offices, with all elements in place, went live in 2012. These first ten offices were Sligo, Arklow, Tallaght, Kings Inns, Ballymun, Buncrana, Coolock, Dundalk, Finglas and Killarney.
A further two Intreo offices have now opened in Newcastlewest and Blanchardstown. It is intended to have the full service available from a total of approximately 40 offices this year and to complete the full roll-out of all service elements to all 63 offices of the Department in 2014. As part of this process it is intended to complete the roll-out of elements (i) and (ii) above to all offices during 2013. Element (iii) requires infrastructural works in many office locations and therefore has a longer timeline.
Costs arising during the development of the new service identity related to the initial design and design implementation, some translation costs, the cost of royalty free images and trademark search & registration. The costs for these elements amounted to €59,516.
A particular effort was made to keep costs down during the development of the new identity, through procuring services via public tender from various suppliers to ensure cost effectiveness. The initial work on the development of the identity and new name and logo of the new service was carried out by Creative Inc. Following a separate tender, work on the implementation of the new name and identity in the Department’s offices was carried out by Language Ltd.
With regard to the costs for facilities and refurbishment, twelve offices are now providing the full Intreo service and preparations are underway in other offices. Some of the Department’s existing buildings will require minor structural works, while other buildings because of their condition, health and safety issues or limited space availability will either need major works or replacement offices to be sought. Expenditure on the rollout of Intreo offices to date is estimated at almost €2m. The costs for the remainder of 2013 are not yet known and will be contingent on the contract prices finalised with the contractors on each project. These costs are kept under close scrutiny as the Department is committed to securing value for money in implementing the introduction of the various elements of the service. A breakdown of costs on the twelve offices that have been completed is shown in the following table.
The cost for stationary is not done on an office by office basis, but rather on a centralised system with office locations placing orders when needed.
|
County
|
Location
|
Structural *
|
External Signage
|
Internal Signage
|
Ancillary **
|
Total
|
|
Donegal
|
Buncrana
|
96,821
|
3,148
|
1,180
|
2,335
|
103,484
|
|
Dublin
|
Ballymun
|
45,665
|
3,148
|
1,020
|
6,071
|
55,904
|
|
-
|
Blanchardstown
|
285,541
|
3,148
|
1,620
|
46,300
|
336,609
|
|
-
|
Coolock
|
147,973
|
3,148
|
1,930
|
9,390
|
162,441
|
|
-
|
Finglas
|
-
|
3,148
|
|
6,027
|
9,175
|
|
-
|
Parnell Street
|
54,305
|
6,210
|
7,220
|
28,810
|
96,545
|
|
-
|
Tallaght
|
220,040
|
6,508
|
4,210
|
82,999
|
313,757
|
|
Kerry
|
Killarney
|
69,518
|
3,148
|
3,754
|
7,740
|
84,160
|
|
Limerick
|
Newcastlewest
|
347,073
|
3,148
|
Invoice o/s***
|
31,514
|
381,735
|
|
Louth
|
Dundalk
|
197,665
|
3,148
|
1,100
|
12,160
|
214,073
|
|
Sligo
|
Sligo
|
66,300
|
13,090
|
5,707
|
30,980
|
116,077
|
|
Wicklow
|
Arklow
|
98,600
|
6,990
|
2,550
|
7,800
|
115,940
|
*Structural relates to building works including mechanical and electrical installations.
**Ancillary relates to items such as Furniture, Fittings, Decorating/Painting, Electronic Queuing Systems and Security, which includes installation/upgrade of CCTV and alert systems.
***Awaiting invoice to authorise payment.
With regard to the development of the Department’s website there was no cost involved in making changes to the Department’s website www.welfare.ie
in advance of the launch of the Intreo service in October 2012.
As a separate project the Department's website www.welfare.ie
was re-developed and re-launched in January 2013. The re-development of the www.welfare.ie
website represents the first phase of a multiple programme of planned activity in website/online services of the Department. It incorporates the major expansion of the Department in recent times and aligns the site with the Department’s priorities, including the activation of jobseekers and information and services for employers. It will also facilitate the delivery of more online services for customers.
As part of the overall re-development, a dedicated Intreo area was created on the site, through which employers and jobseekers can access all existing information and services in relation to supports, training and entitlements. The web pages in this area of the site use a different colour scheme to that used in other areas of the site, but this was developed as part of the overall re-development package, at no extra cost to the project. The Intreo logo is used in the header of all web pages and on all Intreo-related pages; this was implemented as part of the overall re-development of the header and no extra cost was incurred for its inclusion.
The Department awarded a contract for IT consultancy support for the design, development and implementation of a new www.welfare.ie
website on 7th September 2012 to Hewlett Packard. The contract includes on-going maintenance and support of the website for three years. The total cost involved is €463,380 (excluding VAT).
