115 extra staff to cope with rising dole claims

THE Government is to assign an additional 115 staff to social welfare offices across the country to deal with the growing backlog in unemployment claims.

Over 43,600 people are stuck in the backlog, with the Department of Social Affairs under acute pressure to process these claims before Christmas.

It is the second extra assignment of staff this year, after 31 additional public servants were deployed to offices over the summer because of the speed at which the dole queues were increasing.

The most recent Live Register figures, published by the Central Statistics Office last month, showed the number signing on for unemployment benefits had reached 260,300, the highest level since 1997.

The CSO will publish its latest figures later this week, and a further increase is expected, given the severity of the economic downturn.

Labour TD Roisín Shortall asked Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin in the Dáil if she was aware of the growing concern among people recently made unemployed that their claims would not be processed in time for Christmas.

She asked the minister to clarify whether extra staff would be recruited and where they would be deployed.

In a written response, Ms Hanafin said “every effort” was being made to process claims in social welfare offices as quickly as possible.

“This includes the prioritisation of work [and] assignment of additional resources, including staffing and overtime.”

A review of staffing levels had been carried out in the summer and 31 additional workers assigned to local offices. Another review has been carried out, and an additional 115 staff are to be assigned to the offices, Ms Hanafin said.

“There will be no recruitment of additional staff,” she stressed. “They are being sourced from existing civil service numbers.”

The minister said from October to November 21 an average of almost 11,000 claims a week were being processed. But there were still 43,652 claims awaiting decision at November 21.

However, Ms Hanafin promised that “claims on hand at present will be processed before Christmas”.

She also said while waiting for a decision on their claim, applicants could seek Supplementary Welfare Allowance from their local community welfare officer.