Welfare officers ‘at breaking point’

A SHARP rise in hardship claims has prompted community welfare officers to demand an increase in employee numbers so the needs of desperate individuals and families can be met.

Community welfare services providing medical, mortgage and supplementary payment assistance are reaching breaking point, it was claimed. Claims to officers for mortgage assistance shot up some 70% in 2008, said SIPTU.

There has been a cap on community welfare officer numbers as they are under the Health Service Executive (HSE) and its recruitment embargo, it added.