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Community Welfare Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Ceisteanna (515)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

515. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who met with the community welfare officer in person at locations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17489/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department does not maintain records of the number of persons who meet with the Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in Intreo Centres and Outreach locations.

The following tables show:

- the number of Basic weekly Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) in payment in December 2019, 2020 and 2021 in the locations concerned.

- the number of SWA supplements (including Rent Supplement, Diet Supplement and Travel Supplement) in payment in December 2019, 2020 and 2021 in the locations concerned and

- the number of Exceptional Needs Payment awarded and paid during 2019, 2020 and 2021 in the locations concerned.

It should be noted that in Quarter 4, 2021, the claimload in Mountmellick was reallocated to CWOs in adjacent areas to maximise efficiencies in claim processing.

The data beneath will give an indication of the level of traffic to the Community Welfare Service in Portlaoise, Rathdowney and Mountmellick in December in the years 2019, 2020 and 2021:

Basic SWA claims in payment

Location

Dec-19

Dec-20

Dec-21

Portlaoise

303

193

184

Rathdowney

71

54

48

Mountmellick

42

24

1

SWA Supplements claims in payment

Location

Dec-19

Dec-20

Dec-21

Portlaoise

148

159

92

Rathdowney

23

31

30

Mountmellick

28

21

1

Exceptional Needs Payments made

Year

Portlaoise

Rathdowney

Mountmellick

2019

2,269

432

305

2020

1,650

231

171

2021

1,119

166

98

A person can request an appointment with a Community Welfare Officer (CWO) at my Department's office at Government Buildings, Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise Monday to Friday and at the Social Welfare Branch Office in Rathdowney each Thursday morning. In addition any person who needs to contact or access the CWS can also do so by telephone or email.

It is important to note that as part of my continued commitment to improve the CWS in County Laois and across the country, customers no longer have to meet in person with a CWO to make a claim. Consultations with a CWO are available via phone at our offices and a direct home visit appointment can be arranged depending on the customer’s needs. All applications for assistance are dealt with promptly by my officials.

This change is a significant enhancement to the service offered to customers as it means that those who require community welfare assistance no longer need to visit an outreach location or wait to make a claim or wait to access the service. The initiatives that I have put in place continue to ensure that the service is easily accessible and responsive to customer needs, particularly in a time of crisis or emergency.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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