Tens of thousands of benefits recipients will have their payments delayed this week because of the national strike, it was confirmed today.
The one-day action by public sector workers tomorrow will shut down all social welfare offices around the country.
Around 35,000 people expecting maternity, illness, jobseekers and supplementary welfare payments into their bank on Wednesday will not be paid until one day later.
Another 20,000 who receive cheques for the same benefits will also be affected, said a Department of Social and Family Affairs spokeswoman.
“The loss of a full day’s processing time for a system as large as the Department of Social and Family Affairs will regrettably mean that some 55,000 customers who are in receipt of a weekly payment by cheque or directly to their financial institution on Wednesday will be delayed by one day,” she said.
Those in receipt of disability allowance who are due to collect their payment on Wednesday should not be affected, according to the spokeswoman.
Claimants paid by a social services card through their post office are also not expected to be affected.
The strike tomorrow will significantly disrupt services across a range of other areas including health, education, local authorities, the courts and public administration. Commercial State companies will not be affected.
In the civil service the majority of staff are expected to take part in the stoppage. In the main, contingency cover will only be provided in areas such as the Coastguard or in Met Éireann, where there could otherwise be a potential threat to life. The Department of Finance said that discussions were continuing on provision of a limited customs service at airports and ports.
Over 16,000 people face having their hospital appointments or procedures deferred. All non-emergency hospital procedures will be cancelled today and tomorrow. Day case activity will continue as normal today, but procedures which require admission to hospital will not take place in the lead up to tomorrow’s strike. All out-patient clinics scheduled for tomorrow will be postponed.
Emergency departments and ambulance services will operate a limited service tomorrow. It is anticipated that there will be a “Christmas Day” level of cover in hospitals on the day. The HSE’s swine flu vaccination clinics will be closed on Tuesday.
All Dublin City Council offices and facilities, including motor taxation offices, will be closed to the public tomorrow.
Additional reporting PA