A shortage of Community Welfare staff is causing delays in dealing with applications for Supplementary Welfare Support, Galway East TD Seán Canney has said.
The Independent TD said that the issues such as cost of fuel, food and other basics are ‘very real’, and that the Government’s response was to advise people to contact their Community Welfare Officer.
But Canney said that with the increase in demand for help, the Community Welfare Offices are ‘overrun with queries’.
He said that this unprecedented demand has led to delays in dealing with applications.
“The Department need to increase their resources immediately to deal with the demand,” he said.
“There is also a responsibility on Government to ensure the service they have recommended is resourced sufficiently to cope with the increased demand.”
