asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that because there are no postal deliveries in Dublin on Saturday many recipients of social welfare benefits are not receiving their cheques on time and that this is causing considerable hardship; and if any arrangements can be made to remedy the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Recipients.
36.
I am not aware that considerable hardship is caused in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy in his question and I understand that no complaints have in fact been made to my Department in the matter. If, however, the Deputy or indeed any Deputy has any specific cases in mind and brings them to my notice, I shall be happy to have them looked into.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, the people who are depending on social welfare benefits are not usually very articulate in so far as they do not go down, when they are ill, to complain to the Department. This is very prevalent. I know from my own "clinic" that these people do not get their cheques on Friday, although it is customary and traditional for people to collect money on Friday. Frequently these people must wait for their money until Tuesday or Wednesday. This is all right when one speaks about people with means——
The Deputy is making a statement.
We are talking about people who have no means. It is not a case of the Minister or the Parliamentary Secretary being responsible; it is the officials who are responsible because they do not send out the cheques in time. If arrangements could be made to have payments delivered to them, as was done previously, it would help the unfortunate people.
I think the difficulty may arise because of the fact that there is no postal service in the Dublin area on Saturday. I have been informed, and I accept the explanation, that people in the Dublin area are well aware that the postal service in the area has been discontinued on Saturday. The evidence before me is that people have made arrangements to ensure they are not left waiting over the weekend. As I have said, if any Deputy has any specific case in mind he should bring it to the attention of the Department and the matter will be investigated.
What alternative arrangements could they make? The banks will not give them an advance.
If the certificate is supplied in time——
It is not the fault of the Minister or the Parliamentary Secretary—it is the officials' fault.
The Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary accept full responsibility for the running of the Department.
(Interruptions.)
Order. I am calling Question No. 37.