asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware of the hardship imposed on recipients of unemployment assistance, who are compelled to travel from Cromane to Killorglin employment exchange, and, if so, if he will arrange to allow the men concerned to register at Cromane post office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance.
The position of applicants for unemployment assistance in the Cromane area has been under consideration and I am satisfied that there are no special circumstances which would justify exceptional treatment for those persons.
Is the Minister aware that some of the recipients of unemployment assistance are just on the borderline specified by the Department —that is, six miles from the employment exchange? If a new survey was carried out these people would be entitled to report at the local post office. People who are further down the road and nearer to Killorglin than those to whom I am specifically referring are in receipt of their unemployment assistance through the medium of the postal services. A difficulty exists; whether that is the result of the survey that was carried out not being up-to-date, I do not know, but we would be grateful if the Minister would have the position further examined now.
The position described by the Deputy is not peculiar to Cromane. That position obtains all over the country and I do not know of any special circumstances which would warrant any change in respect of this area.