Surveys in the Department of Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection carries out surveys to discover how well its programmes are working and how satisfied clients are with the services provided.

We do this because we need the input of the department’s clients to understand how we can improve our services.

Some surveys are conducted directly by the Statistics Unit of the Department, while in other cases we ask independent market research companies to carry out surveys or research on our behalf. We generally ask these companies to survey a representative sample of the population.

The Statistics Unit of the Department is a part of the Irish Statistical System, and by law any survey responses supplied to the Statistics Unit or independent research companies on our behalf are totally private and confidential.

Individual level information or responses cannot be shared for any other purpose than statistical reporting. Such information cannot be used for any other administrative purposes and people’s answers can’t affect any interactions they might have with the department in any way.

If you receive a survey request from the Department, please take the time to complete it as your response is really important. It will help us understand your experiences so that we can provide a better service to you.

Chief Statistician

Statistics Unit

Department of Social Protection

Since 2015, the department has carried out customer satisfaction surveys to understand how its customers interact with unemployment supports and services.

The surveys provide essential feedback and the department can adapt and develop its services from emerging issues and challenges.

The overall objective of the Jobseeker Surveys is to:

• measure overall levels of customer satisfaction with the department’s public office and partner services across the country
• identify barriers to high customer satisfaction with service agents, processes and locations
• identify particular reasons for high and low satisfaction levels for each of the elements above
• use Jobseekers’ insights to improve current service delivery and processes, and inform policy developments
• establish the extent to which individuals who have since secure employment feel that the Intreo or Intreo Partner services contributed to their securing of employment

Computer Assisted Telephone (CATI) surveys have been carried out every year since October 2015. All surveys to date have been conducted by external contractors on behalf of the department. The latest telephone survey was conducted between November and December 2023.

Further information on the Contact Centres – Phone Services Customer Satisfaction Survey

Further information on the Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Survey

Further information on the Intreo Partners Customer Satisfaction Survey

Customer Satisfaction Survey on Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s Benefit

Focus Groups for Jobseekers on the Public Employment Service

Ipsos Behaviour & Attitudes will not ask you for personal details such as your PPS Number or bank details.

For a list of the departments surveys, click here.

If you would like to be removed from the Customer Satisfaction Survey contact list, please email CustomerSatisfactionSurvey@welfare.iePlease provide your contact details, including your PPSN OR your date of birth.