Department allays fears over Community Welfare Offices in Kells and Trim

The Department of Social Protection has moved to allay fears that the Community Welfare services in Trim and Kells were to be centralised to Navan.

The Community Welfare Office (CWO), which had until now operated out of the social welfare offices in Kells and Trim provides additional financial support to people on a low income or getting a social welfare payment.

While service users and local politicians were advised of a move to centalise the service to Navan, which would have seen an end to face to face meetings with the Community Welfare Officer, a spokesperson said this week that Community Welfare Officers would continue to meet with customers in the Branch Offices in Kells and Trim and remain available to travel to meet customers if required.

He said the delivery of Community Welfare Services to meet the needs of citizens across the country remains a priority for the Department which has maintained staffing levels in its Community Welfare Service nationwide.

Users of the service and local representatives had been very angry at the changes.

One Ballivor man said it would cause problems for families. "We have sometimes been stuck for money when waiting for a social welfare payment to be set up or a claim to be reopened.

"We would have to get a bus into Trim, where we would meet the community welfare officer and we would get a cheque from her.

"If this move happens, we will no longer be able to do that.

"We will have to fill in a form and post it off or else get two buses to get to Navan, and even then I don't think we will be able to meet with the Community Welfare Officer."

He said it would mean delays in getting the help they need.

"When we have to turn to the CWO for help, it is because we need the money badly and this will delay the payment. The extra bus to get to Navan will be a problem if we have no money in the first place."

A woman who has used the service in Navan said they already don’t meet face to face there. "In the Navan Intreo office you fill out a form and hand it in at the desk. They pass it on to the Community Welfare Officer who then rings back at some stage to say yes or no to what it is you’ve applied for."

Cllr Noel French had described it as an awful decision as the service was badly needed.

"Many of those who rely on this service are very vulnerable, some may have difficulties with reading or writing, some have mental health problems and they need the face to face service the local office provided.

"It is horrible to think that it could become a faceless services and they will have to wait for badly needed help," he said.

Cllr Aisling Dempsey had been seeking a u-turn on this decision.

"I totally understand the need for efficiencies and yes, oftentimes one centralised office makes sense but in this case, it adds an extra step to the person’s application."

Cllr Paul MC Cabe said the plans needed to be reversed. "I have written to Minister Heather Humphreys outlining my concerns."

Deputies Darren O’Rourke and Johnny Guirke, had both called on the government to intervene to ensure the plans to remove Community Welfare Officers from Kells and Trim were abandoned. Deputy O'Rourke described it as "an absolutely shameful decision", which would make it more difficult for people to access help when they need it most.

Deputy Guirke said'; “We need to be putting more help in place for people, not making it more difficult for people to get help when they need it".