asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that grave inconvenience has been caused to the recipients of social welfare benefits by the closing down of the local agencies at Nenagh and Borrisokane, County Tipperary; and that persons must either write or call to the Department in Dublin in connection with any matters arising from their claims; and if he will state the reasons why these offices were closed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of North Tipperary Social Welfare Agencies.
33.
I am not so aware. When the local agencies at Nenagh and Borrisokane became vacant a short time ago it was decided to administer the agencies from headquarters. This was in accordance with the Department's policy not to fill any vacant agencies pending the outcome of a review which is being made of the agency system. The alternative arrangements made for dealing with the work of the Nenagh and Borrisokane agencies are similar to those which have been made for a number of other agencies and which have been working satisfactorily and have given rise to no complaints. In case the Deputy may not be aware of the fact, I should mention that the Department has branch employment offices and social welfare offices at Nenagh and Birr and claim forms may be obtained from any of these offices as well as from Dublin.
Is the Minister aware that in Borrisokane, Nenagh and Cloughjordan, which comprise a very big part of Lower Ormonde, there is no social welfare office? In Borrisokane, the office has been closed down for over six months, in Nenagh in the last month and in Cloughjordan in the last three months and the people of those places have nowhere to go to make their claims.
There is a social welfare office in Nenagh.
It is closed down and the man has retired on a very big pension.
The agency is closed down.
Yes. That is the social welfare office.
My information is that these forms are available at Nenagh branch employment office, Limerick employment exchange and Nenagh social welfare office.
Do I understand, then, that it is the Minister's policy that where a person, young or old, in Cloughjordan or Borrisokane wants to make a claim he has to get an ass and cart or a bike or any other means of transporation that he can get, and go into the labour exchange in Limerick or, alternatively, get somebody to write on his behalf to Dublin?
They can make it direct to Dublin.
Who can?
The persons concerned.
How can they get in touch with Dublin?
By post.
Does the Minister understand that he is dealing with people who sometimes have no great use of the pen?
This scheme has given rise to no complaints.
On that point, Sir. If the Minister has got no complaints, I can say his Department has not handed them over to him because there has been a vast number of complaints made from all over Lower Ormonde on that basis.