Welfare services move angers locals
Dublin People 31 Mar 2012
THE chief
executive of a company that provides integrated facilities in one of the
Northside’s most deprived communities has slammed the Department of Social
Protection’s decision to move some welfare services out of the area.
Linda Hayden
was speaking after it was announced that from April 16 many welfare recipients
in Darndale, Belcamp and Priorswood will have their financial support dealt
with in two different welfare offices – one in Coolock and the other in the
Darndale Belcamp Village Centre.
Disapproval
Only rent and
mortgage supplement claims will now be dealt with at the village centre, a
decision that has been met with disapproval in the area.
It’s feared
that the curtailment of community welfare services in Darndale will deprive
those most in need of financial assistance of an effective, efficient and
personable support.
Ms Hayden said
it’s
“horrendous
? that the rest of the welfare services are being taken from
the village centre.
“We fought very
hard to have a full service available in Darndale in the first place and now
it’s being chipped away again,
? she told Northside People.
Disadvantaged
“This is a
hugely disadvantaged area so this will affect many people.
?
Ms Hayden, who
called for the move to be reversed, believes the current set up works best for
both the Department of Social Protection and welfare applicants.
Familiar
“The local
department staff are familiar with the applicants and their circumstances so
they know who should be approved for support such as emergency financial
assistance and who are less of a priority,
? she argued.
“Those in need
of support weren’t nameless faces and their accounts could be managed properly,
all things considered.
“It will be to
both the applicants and the department’s disadvantage that these people will
now be just a number in the ever increasing list of people seeking support in
Coolock as a result of this reconfiguration.
?
Ms Hayden
added:
“I firmly believe that this change will make the processing of claims
less efficient.
?
A spokesperson
for the Department of Social Protection confirmed that welfare services in the
Coolock, Darndale and Swords areas are to be reconfigured.
Maximise
This is in
order to maximise the work of the service provided by community welfare
officers and to align with changes underway in the department generally.
“To do this, a
central processing unit for all rent and mortgage interest supplement claims
from the Coolock/Darndale area is to be established in the Darndale Belcamp
Village Centre,
? the spokesperson stated.
“The community
welfare office in Darndale Belcamp Village Centre will remain open, and from
Monday, April 16 will deal only with the rent and mortgage interest supplement
aspects of customers’ applications and entitlements.
“Customers can
access the remainder of the community welfare services from Coolock Health
Centre, Cromcastle Road, from that date.
“All other
Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) claims for the Coolock/Darndale area will
be processed in the Coolock Health Centre from Monday, April 16.
?
Dublin North
East TD Tommy Broughan (Lab) said the curtailment of services amounts to an
“effective closure
? of the general Community Welfare Service in Darndale.
“A number of
constituents had approached me in relation to the reports,
? he stated.
Deputy Broughan
said he appreciated that the Department of Social Protection was currently
undergoing significant changes.
“I am seeking a
review of this decision from the Minister (Joan Burton),
? he added.
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