The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Makes New Announcements

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, T.D., today announced that an information campaign will be launched this weekend to inform workers of new entitlements that will accompany important new employment legislation coming into effect on 4 March 2019. The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which was signed by the President on 25 December 2018, delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to address the challenges of increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious employment.

Hailing the Act as one of the most significant pieces of employment legislation in a generation, Minister Doherty said:

“I was very happy to introduce this important new piece of legislation and the information campaign launching this weekend is intended to bring workers up to speed on their new rights. When it comes into effect, just ten days away, this new law will profoundly improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts.

“My Department has worked closely with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to provide information about the changes being introduced in the Bill, ahead of its introduction, in order to ensure employers are brought fully up to date on their new obligations. This information campaign complements this work and will serve as a reminder to all workers concerned that the new protections are now coming into effect.”

And: 

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is pleased to announce the opening of a new, centralised office in Ballybofey, Co Donegal.

The new office will provide a more comprehensive service to customers by merging several social welfare services into the one location. The following services will be available from the new office:

• * Community Welfare Officer (currently in Navenny House, Ballybofey)
• * Employment Support Services (currently in Dunfril House, Chestnut Road, Ballybofey)
• * Community Development Officer (currently in Dunfril House, Chestnut Road, Ballybofey)
• * Social Welfare Inspectors (currently in 14/15 Chestnut Rd, Ballybofey)

The new office will be located at Butt Hall Centre, Lower Main Street, Ballybofey, and will open to the public on Monday 4th March 2018. Contact telephone number: 074 9130384. Opening times for the new office are Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 1.00pm & 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

In order to facilitate the moves the Department offices at Chestnut Road, Dunfril House and Navenney House will be closed on Thursday, 28 February 2019 from 1.00pm and Friday, 01 March 2019. Customers seeking to contact the above offices during the closure period should contact Donegal Town Control Office on 074 9740070. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

Image: Ballybofey, Ireland

ABC Note:

1. History of Social Welfare in Ireland

1766 - Friendly Societies & Trade Unions

1834 - Poor Relief Act

1908 - Old Age Pension Act

1911 - National Insurance Scheme

1933 - National Health Insurance transferred to Minister for Local Government & Public Health

1936 - Insurance contributions for Widows and Orphans

1947 - Department of Social Welfare established

1952 - Department of Social Welfare became fully functional

1974 - Introduction of compulsory Social Insurance

1979 – Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) Scheme introduced

1982 - Set up of Social Welfare Tribunal

1986 - Set up of Social Welfare Services Office

1988 - Introduction of PRSI for the self employed

1991 - Set up of Social Welfare Appeals Office

1997 - Renamed Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs

2002 - Renamed Department of Social & Family Affairs

2010 - Renamed Department of Social Protection

2017 - Renamed Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

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