asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the general arrangements in regard to requirements for signing-on at employment exchanges; and the reason for the discrepancy arising from the situation whereby in some areas people are required to sign on five days per week and in other areas on only one day per week.
Written Answers. - Employment Exchange Signing-On Arrangements.
351.
The arrangements for signing for unemployment payments are governed by regulations which require daily attendance on every working day in the case of persons living within two miles of the nearest employment exchange or branch employment office. The regulations permit less frequent signing in the case of persons living more than two miles away or in other exceptional circumstances.
The general position is that claimants living between two and four miles away are required to sign twice a week and those living beyond four miles sign once a week. Persons over 65 years of age sign once a week irrespective of distance and they also have the option of four-weekly signing.
Differences in the frequency of signing between areas can arise due to the particular circumstances pertaining at the local offices. The requirement to attend at a local office or other designated signing centre at specified times is an important element in the control of claims. Policy in implementing the regulations is based on considerations of maintaining proper control while at the same time taking into account the facilities at the local offices. These facilities can vary from area to area. Where, for example, due to a large increase in the live register at a local office, difficulties are encountered in complying with the prescribed frequency of signing, relaxations are introduced from time to time in the signing arrangements for the convenience of claimants and of the local office. These arrangements are kept under review and modified as required.