asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that many people in Gort, County Galway, regard his decision to close the social welfare office in the town as (a) causing unnecessary hardship to old age pensioners and other recipients of social welfare benefits and (b) lowering the status of the town and leading to loss of business; and if in the circumstances he will reopen the office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gort (Galway) Social Welfare Office.
66.
The introduction of the scheme of old age (contributory) pensions in 1961 enabled many persons, who would otherwise have been dependent on the non-contributory pensions, to qualify for contributory pensions which are not subject to a means test. The volume of work falling to social welfare officers of my Department was accordingly considerably reduced and a further reduction was achieved by transferring purely clerical work from these officers to other grades. In these circumstances and in the interests of efficiency and economy it was necessary to reorganise the work of social welfare officers and this reorganisation entailed a reduction in the number of these officers, with a consequential closing of social welfare officers' stations. I am quite satisfied that there will be no deterioration in the service available to old age pensioners or other recipients of social welfare benefits by reason of this reorganisation.
I may mention that the branch employment office in Gort is not affected by the reorganisation.