asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that applicants for unemployment assistance who reside in areas far removed from a Garda station have to travel 12 to 14 miles for the purpose of having their claims certified by the Garda; and, if so, whether, in view of the inconvenience and hardship caused to these applicants, he will take such steps as are necessary to ensure that they can have their claims certified by the local postmaster in all areas in South Kerry where this inconvenience exists at the present time.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hardship on Applicants for Assistance.
Mr. Flynn
The statutory regulations governing the submission of evidence of unemployment require that applicants for unemployment assistance and claimants for unemployment insurance benefit prove evidence of unemployment in the following manner:—
(a) Those who reside over six miles from local offices nearest to their residences are obliged to attend once a week at their area Garda station or at a special signing centre established by the Department. These applicants are paid by post;
(b) those who reside over four miles but not more than six miles are required to attend once a week at a Garda station for certification and once a week at local office for payment;
(c) those who reside over two miles but not more than four are required to attend at their local office on alternate days;
(d) those who reside two miles or under are normally required to attend at their local office daily.
If the Deputy will let me have particulars of any cases in which he considers that the application of the regulations inflicts hardship on the applicants, I will have them sympathetically considered.
Mr. Flynn
Is the Minister aware that some years ago this matter was so urgent and so serious that one Garda was deputed to attend in some of the outlying districts and is doing so at the moment and, in order to clarify the position and to alleviate the hardship on these people, I would ask the Minister to consider the matter generally in regard to certain areas in South Kerry.
I have told the Deputy that I shall be glad to consider sympathetically any particulars which he furnishes to me where it appears that the operation of the present regulations inflicts hardship on any of the persons concerned.
Will the Minister say whether there are, in fact, parts of the country that are ten or 12 miles from the nearest police station; and, if so, if he will draw the attention of the Minister for Justice to the matter?
Do you want to have them all arrested?
I have already stated in my reply that the regulations provide that those applicants who reside over six miles from local offices nearest to their residences are obliged to attend once a week at their area Garda station or at a special signing centre established by the Department and that these applicants are paid by post. That is a reasonable regulation. However, if it still appears to cause hardship I shall be glad to have the matter examined on receipt of information from any Deputy.