asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that grave discontent is being felt by persons in receipt of unemployment assistance in Dundalk who are over 65 years, and who are now required to visit the employment exchange daily to sign the register; and if he will make arrangements for less frequent attendance at the exchange in respect of these persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Signing of Unemployment Register in Dundalk.
8.
I dealt with this matter in reply to a similar question from the Deputy in relation to unemployment benefit just a year ago. On that occasion I described the signing requirements laid down by my Department for unemployed persons. These requirements are exactly the same in the case of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance. They are as follows: Unemployed persons who reside within two miles of an Exchange are required to attend there every day; unemployed persons residing between two and four miles are required to attend on three days a week; unemployed persons residing between four and six miles are required to attend only on one day a week while those over six miles are not required to attend at an exchange at all. These requirements apply generally to all unemployed persons between the ages of sixteen and seventy. As I said on the previous occasion I do not think these requirements can be regarded as unreasonable and bearing in mind that in order to be eligible for unemployment assistance every unemployed person declares that he is capable of and available for work I do not see how they can be said to cause hardship to unemployed persons. I do not, therefore, propose to make any change in them.
In view of the fact that some of these men are 68 or 69 years of age and that, although they must declare themselves to be eligible for work, it is very unlikely that they would be offered work by any employer on account of their age, would the Minister not consider the possibility of exempting persons in the age group 65 to 70 from daily attendance?
Whether they are being requested to attend daily depends on where they live. I have given a very full reply to the Deputy and I do not propose to repeat it.