Opening hours at Intreo Social Welfare centres across Ireland will be reduced from today (Friday) on an emergency temporary basis.
All public offices will be open to the public from 10 am to 1 pm on Fridays, Mondays and Wednesdays. The offices will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The new measures will be in place temporarily “to observe the strict public health advice and to safeguard both our customers and our staff”, according to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
The department has faced unprecedented demand for income support in the past three weeks, processing almost three hundred thousand applications for Covid-19 related income supports. This figure is increasing each day. The vast majority of these applications are now available through the Department’s easy to use online portal www.MyWelfare.ie.
A statement from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said: “We would like to reassure our customers that we will continue to be available to the public outside our Intreo Centre opening hours. We are using these revised opening hours to substantially increase our capacity to process applications and the number of staff available to engage with customers directly through our dedicated contact centre (1890 800 024) by phone, email and online.
“We would also like to remind people that the quickest and easiest way to submit an application for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Jobseeker’s payment or an Enhanced Illness Benefit payment is to do so online via www.MyWelfare.ie.
“The Department would like to thank our customers for their patience in these unprecedented times. Information on our Intreo Centre opening hours will be kept under review and will be available on our website.”
