PEOPLE WAITING up to 12 weeks for unemployment benefit to be processed are being “driven into the hands of moneylenders” because the HSE has not filled the post for a community welfare officer on maternity leave, the Dáil has heard.

Ciarán Lynch (Labour, Cork South Central) said people waiting for unemployment payments go to the community welfare service to “tide them over the application period”. But in the Ballyphehane-Togher area of Cork, the community welfare office “has gone on maternity leave and the HSE has not filled the post”. This is driving some people “into the hands of moneylenders because the State is not fulfilling its function”.

Minister of State for Health John Moloney said that the “member of staff for this area was suddenly taken ill. The situation was compounded by the fact that a large number of possible replacement staff were also unavailable”.

He also attributed the problem to delays in the transfer of community welfare services from the Department of Health to the Department of Social and Family Affairs, a decision made in 2006.

Mr Lynch said however that the problem in Cork was going on for a number of weeks, and the officer had gone on maternity leave.

He also said the existing system of applying to a community welfare officer “beggared belief” because it “takes nine weeks for a person to receive a social welfare payment, yet the community welfare office can effect a payment within one week”.

Mr Moloney, replying for Minister for Health Mary Harney said “delays to date do not reflect well on the public service and I hope this matter can now be progressed quickly”. A process “is under way with the staff and their trade unions to implement a revised arrangement” for Ballyphehane-Togher within 10 days.