asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the increased cost of bus fares, he will consider either relaxing the regulations for unemployed persons residing in the Upper Ballyfermot area so that they will be required to attend the local employment exchange on one day only each week or, alternatively, establishing a branch office in the Ballyfermot area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Attendance at Ballyfermot Employment Exchange.
The regulations to which the Deputy refers were relaxed a little over a year ago to provide that unemployed persons in the Dublin area residing between two and four miles from an employment exchange should be required to attend at the exchange should on two days a week instead of on three. The great majority of unemployed persons residing in the Ballyfermot area benefited by this concession. Unemployed persons residing more than four miles from an exchange—of whom there are some in the Ballyfermot area—are required to attend on one day a week only. I think these requirements are very reasonable and I do not think any further relaxations are called for. Lest the Deputy may not be aware of the fact. I should point out that unemployed persons living outside the Dublin area who live between two and four miles from an employment exchange are required to attend at the exchange on three days a week.