asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the considerable hardship being caused to social welfare recipients in outlying areas of Dublin due to the postal strike and if he will make a statement on the matter.
180.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
179.
andMr. Boland asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the deterioration in the postal dispute in Dublin and the consequent hardship to social welfare recipients, he will make a statement outlining the arrangements he is now making for the payment of social benefits and allowances for this week and as long as the dispute lasts.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.
The disruption of postal services caused by the strike of certain post office employees has seriously upset the arrangements for making social welfare payments. The emergency arrangements made by my Department to meet this situation are designed to ensure the least possible inconvenience to persons entitled to social welfare payment. Details of these arrangements were announced in all the daily newspapers within the last week.
In areas where post offices are closed persons who normally receive payment of pension or allowance, including children's allowance, at these offices may have their orders cashed by local traders, shopkeepers or other persons willing to cash them. The banks have agreed to accept the orders as part of the lodgments of the persons who cashed them.
As sub-post offices are still operating persons whose designated office for the cashing of any pension or allowance is a sub-post office, will continue to receive payment at such office.
Unemployment benefit and assistance are normally paid in cash at my Department's local offices but persons who receive payment otherwise may attend for payment in cash at the appropriate local office.
Cheques in payment of disability, injury, disablement and maternity benefits were being distributed at employment exchanges throughout the country and at convenient local centres in areas which are not served by these offices. For persons residing in the Dublin area the benefit cheques were available for collection at my Department's public office, 157-164 Townsend Street, Dublin 2. The Post Office Workers' Union, however, regarded this work as appropriate to their members and contended that it should not be done by other staffs. The Civil and Public Services Staff Association accordingly notified their members in my Department that they must discontinue the arrangements.
I am now informed that the Post Office Workers' Union have lifted the embargo on these payments, and the arrangements I have outlined will accordingly continue to operate for the duration of the dispute.