asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the apparent likelihood of continuing disruption and uncertainty regarding public transport and postal services, he will now act on the suggestion that social welfare payments be made in a different manner.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Payments System.
20.
Social welfare payments are made in many different ways. The various methods used have been devised with a view to the convenience of recipients and the best interests of all concerned.
Whatever system of payment is adopted, public services of one kind or another will inevitably be involved. In such circumstances it would be impossible to provide a workable system that would operate independently of all public services.
I am, however, at all times prepared to consider any specific suggestions which would contribute to a better service for social welfare beneficiaries.
When public services in the Dublin region were disrupted recently emergency arrangements were made which ensured that recipients were able to receive their benefits with a minimum of inconvenience.
I know the Minister will accept that an amount of inconvenience was caused of late to recipients in Dublin city because of the postal and transport disputes. Could the Minister say whether the possibility has been examined of having payments made on a permanent basis through local offices—— for example, the offices of the health board or the local authorities spread throughout the Dublin subregion?
That matter is considered from time to time. In fact, when the payment of cheques was disrupted recently by the post office dispute, we arranged to have the cheques paid out centrally. On top of that, we had the bus strike and people could not even come in to the central point. As an emergency measure we arranged to have them distributed at centres on the outskirts. It worked all right as an emergency measure, but I am not sure it would be desirable as a permanent situation.
The Minister will be aware that I pointed this out to him during a recent debate on social welfare matters generally. I referred to the uncertainty of the postal service for dealing with this matter on a permanent basis. Could the Minister not consider the expansion of the district health centres so that social welfare payments could be made through those offices, or perhaps through the offices which some of the local authorities have?
That would still involve people calling to those offices. Many of these cheques are disability benefits and presumably those people are unable to call for them.
Unfortunately at present and for some time to come many of them are and will be in receipt of unemployment benefit. They could attend more easily at local centres.