12-05-2025
Calls for crackdown amid increasing attacks on social welfare officers
Attacks and threats of violence against Social Protection staff have more than doubled since 2022, new figures show.
Now Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan has said the State needs to 'crack down' on the growing level of attacks on the workers.
There were 358 violent incidents and threats made to staff working for the Department of Social Protection in 2022, while in 2023 it doubled to 687, with a further increase to 791 last year. The figures for the first four months of this year, 272, indicate the trend is still growing sharply. Pádraig O'Sullivan. Photo: Leah Farrell/
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said: 'These are disturbing figures that point to a growing culture of violence. We know about the difficulties public transport and our gardaí and hospital workers face, and this is now spreading into welfare offices.
'This is all the more egregious given that social welfare offices are the front-line for people in need and difficulty.'
He added: 'Attacks on welfare staff are also attacks on the needy and on people who are in crisis.'
Mr O'Sullivan, whose Dáil question revealed the figures, said: 'This must be nipped in the bud now. We need to crack down on this swiftly. Attacks on welfare officers are an act of social sabotage and should be treated in that fashion.'
Responding, Minister Calleary said: 'My Department has a staffing complement of approximately 7,300 both permanent and temporary staff who deliver services through a nationwide net work of offices, with a very high level of public engagement, both through front office services (via Intreo offices, Public offices and Branch offices) and by phone through a number of contact centres.' Dara Calleary. Pic: Tom Honan
Mr Calleary said the increase in incidents was 'attributable in part to increased reporting, with the introduction of the department's internal Health and Safety Incident Reporting app, which allows staff to more easily record and report relevant incidents'.
The Minister added: 'My department takes its duty of care to staff very seriously, actively encouraging reporting of any incidents and with a range of robust procedures in place to respond to threats to staff, including the support of line managers, regional safety advisers and engagement with the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service.
'Staff working in our public offices undertake frontline customer services training, which includes de-escalation and diffusing techniques and procedures where required for positive customer engagement.'
Mr O'Sullivan welcomed the training, but said: 'It is an unfortunate scenario where staff have to undergo such training, but the figures reveal it is necessary.'
