asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether it is inappropriate that a room in a private house should be used as an employment exchange in Killarney, County Kerry; given the high numbers of unemployed persons in the area, if he will have this exchange moved to the ballroom in the town hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Killarney Employment Exchange.
46.
My Department's services to the unemployed in Killarney are provided through a branch employment office which is located at 68 New Street, which itself is just off the Main Street.
The office is situated on the ground floor of a three storey building. The remainder of the building is used as a domestic dwelling by the manager of the branch office and has its own private entrance. The public office is separate from the residential part of the premises and access is provided directly from the street to this public office.
Managers of branch employment offices are employed under the terms of a contract for service which, among other things require them to provide suitable furnished premises with adequate counter and other facilities necessary for the efficient provision of services to the public. The staff of such offices are employed directly by the branch manager.
The branch employment office at Killarney, in common with all others, is regularly inspected by staff from its parent employment exchange and officers from the headquarters of my Department with a view to ensuring that satisfactory standards of service and efficiency are maintained. This is done against a background where pressures on all local offices of the Department have increased in recent years.
The Killarney office serves a current total claim load of 1,449, of which roughly 750 are required to attend each week at the office for payments. The balance are served through the postal system.