asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the great hardship imposed on those in receipt of disability benefit in the Tralee district, County Kerry since the local office was closed; and, if so, if he will now consider having the office re-opened.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Tralee Social Welfare Office.
90.
I am not aware of any hardship imposed on disability benefit recipients in the Tralee district since the local agency was closed. I do not propose to re-open the agency.
When I raised the question last week, I was told that I would get a reply from the Minister. There is grave dissatisfaction. I have one case where a man posted a certificate on 20th February, 1967 and should receive payment on 24th or 25th February but did not receive it until 29th February. He posted a certificate again on 6th March and has not received payment so far. He wrote to the Department again on 10th March but so far has not received payment. This has caused dissatisfaction and I would ask the Minister to reconsider the question of having the local office re-opened.
I thought it was Government policy to decentralise.
It has been policy actually not to continue these agencies when they become vacant, as the Deputy probably knows. I doubt if the appointment of an agent would expedite payment in some specific case that he has mentioned. If he will let me know of the case, I will look into that separately. In fact, we have had no complaints from applicants in the area.
It would be quite different if the local agent were operating in Tralee. The office is still there and there is plenty of accommodation and somebody on the staff of the exchange could be appointed to carry out the work. It is most unfair to have people going around the town of Tralee trying to find someone to stamp their forms for them when it could be done in the exchange. I would ask the Minister to reconsider the whole thing.