Vol. 542 No. 2
402 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the nature, duration and cause of the industrial action taking place in his Department; the number of people involved; the plans he has to resolve the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23677/01]
The dispute in the Department's decentralised office in Letterkenny centres on the filling of three additional temporary posts required in the office by the recruitment of staff on short-term contracts for work associated with the introduction of a new computer system. The industrial action involves 157 staff who are currently refusing to deal with telephone and fax inquiries or to make themselves available for overtime working. The office administers child benefit and treatment benefit – dental, optical and medical appliances.
I regret that the public are currently being inconvenienced by the industrial action. Every effort is being made to resolve the dispute and in this regard contact between my Department and the union is ongoing.
