asked the Minister for Social Welfare, if it is intended to decentralise the section of his Department which deals with smallholders' assistance in the west; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Smallholders' Assistance.
239.
Almost all of the work involved in dealing with the scheme of unemployment assistance for smallholders is already decentralised. The acceptance and processing of applications under the scheme, as well as the computation and the issue of weekly payments, is carried out at some 20 local employment exchanges and 41 employment offices of the Department in the specified areas covered by the scheme. In addition to the staff of these offices the social welfare officers in those areas are also involved in the administration of the scheme.
It is not intended to decentralise headquarters staff involved in the administration of the scheme of unemployment assistance for smallholders. There is no special section of the headquarters staff of my Department responsible for this work and the scheme is operated as an integral part of the headquarters branch which has overall responsibility for the administration of the schemes of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance throughout the country.