asked the Minister for Labour why a person (name supplied) did not receive travelling expenses from the National Manpower Service as a result of his being called for interview from Britain; why correspondence in regard to this matter was not answered by the National Manpower Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Interview Grant.
52.
The person concerned was entitled to an interview grant under the resettlement assistance scheme. A form of application for a grant was issued to him but the completed form was not received back by the National Manpower Service.
The matter would normally have been cleared up when the Deputy wrote to the NMS at O'Connell Bridge House, Dublin, in November. The Deputy's letter was redirected from there to the Athlone office which was handling the case but it does not appear to have arrived there.
In so far as the NMS may have been at fault, I regret the unfortunate circumstances in this case and I tender my apologies to the Deputy and to the person concerned.
When the matter came to my notice I directed immediate payment of the grant. The procedures of the service are being examined, to ensure against a recurrence of this kind of incident.