To ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the great inconvenience and loss to the workers affected, in having to travel from the Naas area to Droichead Nua, and, will he consider the advisability of opening a Branch Employment Office in the town of Naas.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - BRANCH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE IN NAAS.
The inconvenience and loss to workers claiming Unemployment Benefit in having to travel from the Naas area to Droichead Nua are limited to one journey only on the first day of unemployment, and are much less than in many other areas where the nearest local employment office is considerably further away. In fact, I am informed that workers in the Naas area prefer to attend the office at Droichead Nua once a week rather than attend once only and thereafter be paid by post. Such journeys are unavoidable unless a branch employment office is opened in every place in Ireland in which insured workers live. That course is not practicable on financial grounds. Having regard to the comparatively small number of insured workers, and of claimants for benefit in the Naas area, I do not think the opening of a special office there would be justified.
. Perhaps the Minister is not aware that the workers of Celbridge and Leixlip have to travel to Droichead Nua.
I am not aware of that as far as Celbridge is concerned, but I can give you some figures:—
|
No. of Claimants. |
|
|
(Local Office) Droichead Nua |
292 |
|
,, Kildare |
142 |
|
,, Athy |
85 |
|
(No Local Office) Naas |
45 |