A local TD is calling for a more accessible Community Welfare Service.
The Community Welfare Service provides additional financial support to people on a low income, who are getting a social welfare payment, or anyone who is in an emergency.
Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane says that Community Welfare Officers' drop-in centres no longer being available is making it more difficult for people to access the service.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan show, Deputy Kerrane says there are vunerable groups who cannot avail of the service as a result of it being over the phone.
"We have people in domestic violence situations who don't have the luxury of a) in some cases access to a phone and b) 10 or 15 minutes to stay on the phone explain their situation and particularly in Ballaghaderreen and I was given the example where they'd go out to the shop, run into the health centre, and seek that assistance. That's all gone now. There are vulnerable people who wouldn't have access to a phone, wouldn't be as good at the phone, wouldn't be comfortable on the phone so there was a need there that was being filled by the Community Welfare Officers being based in the community. That's what they were set up to do".
