asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that several employment exchanges throughout the country are primitive in capacity and in design; and if it is intended to improve conditions for those who have to attend at these employment exchanges.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Exchanges.
8.
The Department have 44 departmentally staffed employment exchanges throughout the country and conditions in a number of these are unsatisfactory for both staff and public alike. I assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to improve existing accommodation and to provide entirely new accommodation, where this is the appropriate remedy.
Where does the Minister intend to have these improvements made? There are a number of exchanges in very bad condition.
We have opened a number of new employment exchanges — in Castlebar in 1983, Arklow in 1985, Apollo House in 1985, Washington Street, Cork, in 1983 and in 1982 we opened exchanges at Navan Road, Thomas Street and Dún Laoghaire. There are several other exchanges in different parts of the country which need to be improved. For instance, the accommodation in Galway is totally inadequate and efforts are being made by the Office of Public Works to acquire alternative premises as a matter of urgency. In Limerick the existing accommodation is also totally inadequate and suitable alternative premises have been indentified and the Office of Public Works are at present negotiating a lease.
Nominated question time is rapidly running out. We have to conclude at 3.30 p.m.
These are priority questions——
We have only 15 minutes.
The Minister specifically mentioned Galway exchange and I am glad he did so because this is one of a number about which there has been an outcry recently. What immediate plans has the Minister to provide alternative premises? I am sure he is aware that the people have to queue in the open, irrespective of weather conditions, and facilities there are totally inadequate. It is humiliating and degrading for people to have to queue to get their social welfare payments under these conditions.
Is the Minister aware that there is also a need for staff in this exchange and that they recently threatened to strike? Would he specifically tell us what plans he has for Galway in the very immediate future? Quite honestly, the conditions which appertain there are intolerable.
Hear, hear. They are disgraceful.
The Deputy's party did not do very much about it until I came along.
We did not have thousands unemployed when we were in office.
Roughly speaking, there are 44 exchanges which are departmentally staffed, with roughly 1,044 staff. Of those exchanges, 30 are reasonably adequate, including Galway.
The Coalition have a new industry, building employment exchanges.
There are a number of exchanges, including Galway, where the accommodation is totally inadequate.
Scandalous.
I can assure the Deputy that I am in weekly contact with the Office of Public Works, as are my staff, to acquire alternative premises in Galway as a matter of urgency.
The Minister was told about it a year ago.
Would the Minister agree that Clonmel is also an exchange which leaves a lot to be desired and that virtually the same appalling conditions appertain there as in Galway? Has he any plans for alternative accommodation there?
I am not aware of the alleged inadequacy in Clonmel. I shall examine that matter and write to the Deputy about it.
I am surprised that the Minister——
I am sorry, Deputy——
——knows nothing about Clonmel.
If Deputies do not make the best use of their allotted time surely——
His friend, Deputy Seán Treacy brought it to his attention on numerous occasions and he obviously did not listen to what that Deputy said.
That concludes Question Time for today. Any question which has not been answered will go for written reply unless the Deputy notifies the General Office before 4 p.m. that he requires it to be left on the Order Paper.
With your permission, I should like to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the serious problems being encountered by farmers in County Galway as a result of the TB eradication scheme.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.