asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will provide suitable accommodation, if necessary by arranging for payment at the local dispensaries, for payments to recipients of social welfare and disability benefits in Ballylanders and Galbally, County Limerick, as at present these people have to wait in the rain to receive payment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Limerick Social Welfare Payments.
17.
My Department has no offices in either Ballylanders or Galbally. Payments made by my Department to people in these areas are, with the exception of disability benefit, paid at the local post offices where, so far as I am aware, there is no necessity for recipients to wait in the rain to receive payment. With regard to disability benefit, this is paid by the local agent in the area and my Department has not received any complaints from insured persons in that area.
Does the Minister consider it fair or just that these unfortunate people should have to stand in all weathers until the arrival of the officer to make the payments? Why not make the payments through the post office as is done in the other cases or through the local dispensary? This relieving officer does not time himself as punctually as CIE. He arrives at different hours from week to week.
The Deputy is making a statement.
I am trying to convince the Minister of the necessity and urgency of doing something for these people.
That is not the object of Question Time. The object of Question Time is to extract information from the Minister.
We cannot expect to extract anything from him.
If I get complaints from insured people, I will have them investigated.