Community welfare officer centralisation
Johnny Guirke objected to the centralisation of community welfare officers in Meath, saying it would delay access to emergency support and remove local services from several towns. The Taoiseach said he would speak to the Minister for Social Protection and stressed the need for timely responses to applications.
Centralising community welfare officers across the country and in my own county, Meath, starting on 10 October is a shocking decision, as the community welfare officer is an emergency financial lifeline for many people awaiting other social welfare payments to be approved or having to cope with sudden urgent unexpected payments not covered by available income. This will represent a significant delay for them. Services in my constituency, namely, Meath West, will be taken out of towns such as Oldcastle, Athboy, Trim and Kells and moved to Navan, where there is already a waiting list of 200 people to meet the community welfare officer. That number is only from the other day.
In some cases, people will be asked to go 25 miles to meet a community welfare officer, if they can get an appointment. In they could travel 25 miles, they would not need the community welfare officer. In a cost-of-living crisis and with winter coming, people will need this service more than ever. Does the Taoiseach know what is going on on the ground? I call on him to reverse this decision.
Comment on this
I certainly do know what is going on on the ground. Most Deputies do; that is why they are here. They meet and engage with people on an ongoing basis. However, we do not get involved in the day-to-day operation of services either. There has to be some delegation of authority and responsibility in relation to the management of various services.
It is important that people get a timely response to any applications to a community welfare officer. I will talk to the Minister for Social Protection about the points the Deputy raised.