Fórsa has intensified efforts to maximise online provision of Intreo services, with high-level engagements with both the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). The union is also finalising a staff survey in the department to help demonstrate that a lot of current service demand could be met on a remote basis.

The union has been pressing for services to be delivered on an online basis, with an appointment system for essential and emergency appointments. It says this is necessary for the safety of customers and staff, and to underpin the national effort to control the spread of the Cornonavirus by reducing the number of potentially virus-spreading interactions in Intreo offices and on public transport.

The call came as staff in a number of large Intreo offices reported large queues, which made it impossible to enforce social distancing, face covering, and other public health measures.

The union, which says the current level of face-to-face encounters are not compatible with the State-led Level Five Covid restrictions, continues to engage with management to secure improvements in safety for staff and customers alike.

Fórsa says public health requirements mean appointments should be limited to emergencies that can’t be handled by phone or email. The union also wants mask wearing to be mandatory for any customers that have to attend offices.

Union official Paul MacSweeney said more than half the customers currently attending Intreo centres were seeking forms that could be posted out to them.

“There is a lot of fear and anger among our members because the department insists on maintaining walk-in arrangements when virtually all the services can be delivered online or by phone.

Paul said most other civil service departments and State agencies had suspended walk-in services.

“More needs to be done to increase home working, including the provision of equipment to allow more staff to work from home,” he said. But the union acknowledged that the departmental secretary general had sought to improve this situation following correspondence from Derek Mullen, the head of Fórsa’s Civil Service division.

In the meantime, the union has advised members to alert their local Fórsa rep and Covid ‘lead worker safety representative’ to any specific problems.

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