12 April, 2012

Subject: Information Notice to Public Representatives re Changes in Community Welfare Services in Coolock Darndale Area

I write to inform you of changes that are due to take effect soon in relation to Community Welfare Services in the Coolock Darndale area.

Plans are currently under way to implement changes in service configuration of the Community Welfare Service in the Swords/Coolock/Darndale area. These changes are expected to take effect from Monday, April 16 2012.

The change will see a move from the traditional model of one officer serving an individual location while delivering the full range of Supplementary Welfare Allowance claim categories.

This change will see the establishment of business units in Swords, Coolock and Darndale delivering general SWA services on a team-based approach and also see the centralisation of Rent and Mortgage Interest Supplement processing.

The Coolock office, located in the Health Centre on Cromcastle Road, will process SWA Basic payments, Exceptional Needs Payments and other SWA claim categories in the Coolock/Darndale area.

The Darndale office will administer all housing supplements, rent and mortgage interest, for the Coolock/Darndale catchment area.

The process will see the introduction of a team-based approach to service delivery in these offices; each location will be served by a number of officers rather than the traditional approach with one officer responsible for a fixed location. It is expected that this change should enable the service to function in the event of absences arising from annual or sick leave or as in the case of an immanent maternity leave.

As Coolock has been designated for inclusion in the roll-out of NEES later this year changes in service configuration are inevitable and it is hoped that these changes may assist that transition.

Joseph Kinsella
Community Welfare Service
Health Centre
Cromcastle Road
Coolock
Dublin 5

01 8164 200
joe.kinsella@welfare.ie