asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to take steps to ensure that full information regarding entitlements is automatically made available to unemployed persons during their initial visit to their employment exchange.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Entitlements of Unemployed.
20.
Full information regarding entitlements is, in fact, made available to unemployed persons during their initial visit to their employment exchange. This is a normal function of the staff of the local offices of my Department. In addition to explaining the position orally to the claimants, explanatory leaflets are issued on various aspects of the scheme. Assistance is also given in completing the necessary application forms.
Can the Minister say if people on their initial visit to the employment exchange are automatically given all the explanatory leaflets about any benefits to which they might be entitled?
They should be. In some cases there is a standing practice that they are advised about——
There are Deputies carrying on a conversation which is distracting.
They are advised of the position about other benefits to which they might be entitled. For instance, the attention of old age pensioners is directed to free electricity and so on.
Is the Minister not aware of complaints that, in many cases, people who visit these exchanges are not aware of some of the benefits to which they might be entitled? Is he aware, in particular, that people visiting employment exchanges are not always aware of the existence of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme?
That should not be the case. I cannot say that I have had any complaints to that effect. I monitor carefully the correspondence I receive from Deputies on these matters. Offhand I do not think I have received any complaints about that particular aspect of the services.
I have a copy of correspondence which was sent to the Minister by a person who visited the exchanges and complained because he felt he did not get all the information he should have.
The Deputy is undertaking to send it to me.
I have a copy of correspondence which was sent directly to the Minister, say, three months ago.
I cannot recall it but I will look into it.