The role of the social welfare services has changed to put the family at the centre of Government policies, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs Mr Dermot Ahern said at today's launch of Welfare Awareness Week.
The initiative was kicked off at the Father McGrath Family Resource Centre in Co Kilkenny today and aims to highlight the range of social, family and support services available.
The Minister said the role of the social welfare services has changed with the economic climate. He said: "There has been a positive move to putting families at the centre of government policy while still giving support to the less well-off."
To coincide with the initiative, the Minister launched a magazine - Changing for a Changing Ireland- which covers social welfare-related issues. A copy of the magazine will be sent to every household in the Republic this week.
The Minister also launched an information leaflet Social Welfare, the Euro and Youwhich gives a guide for people getting social welfare payments during the change over to the euro.
The leaflet will be supplied through the Department's local offices, post offices and citizen information centres.