The 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.