Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
487. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will facilitate a meeting (details supplied) to discuss the vital role of social welfare branch offices in rural communities particularly regarding the accessibility of services in Kerry. [47258/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra488. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will facilitate a meeting (details supplied) to discuss the vital role of social welfare branch offices in rural communities particularly regarding the accessibility of services in Kerry. [47260/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together.
My Department currently has 55 Social Welfare Branch Offices at various locations around the country that play an important role in supporting the Department in the delivery of services at local level. Branch Managers are independent self-employed contractors
Each Social Welfare Branch Office is operated and managed, under a contract for service which is subject to public procurement rules, by a Branch Manager who is required to act as an agent for the Department in the area served by the officer. They are managed under the direction of my Department’s local Intreo management who are in direct contact with the branch managers to discuss service delivery.
The arrangements under which they operate have been in place for many decades and are grounded in long standing contractual models that reflect the nature of the work they and their staff perform on behalf of the Department of Social Protection.
The Branch Manager in Killorglin has very recently informed the Department of his intention to retire. When such changes arise to any individual Branch Manager contract, the Department assesses the requirements for the retention of services on a case by case basis.
In this regard, all options for continuation of service delivery in Killorglin and its catchment area are currently being examined.
The continued provision of efficient and quality social welfare services, both online and in-person, to all customers including those in Kerry currently being served by the Killorglin and Dingle branch offices, remains a priority for the Department.
There are two Branch Manager representative groups, The Branch Manager’s Association (BMA) and Representative Group of Branch Managers (RGBM).
Officials from my Department actively engage with the representative groups on all contractual and service delivery issues relating to the Branch Manager contracts. This is considered the appropriate mechanism for any issues to be discussed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
