asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of employment exchanges where it is necessary for applicants to queue in the open air, often in rain.
Ceisteanna—Question. Oral Answers. - Employment Exchanges.
1.
There are at present some 50 employment exchanges in the country and each office operates a timing system whereby applicants sign at specified times on days of attendance. The objective of this system is to ensure an even distribution of claimants during opening hours and to eliminate as far as possible the needs for queueing.
In general where signing times are adhered to, queueing in the open air should not be a problem. However, the experience at a number of employment exchanges is that on pay out days there is a tendency for applicants to form queues outside the building before official opening time or to attend before their respective signing times. This action hinders the effective operation of the local office which is dependent on applicants adhering strictly to signing times. Officials in the local offices do, however, continue to encourage applicants to sign at the designated time in their own interests.
The Deputy will be aware, from my reply to him in a recent parliamentary question, that good progress has been achieved in the opening of new local offices and the refurbishment of existing offices. In this field I would like to reiterate my determination to continue with a programme of improvements until all local offices of my Department measure up to the highest possible standards in the services for the public.
Would the Minister first clarify the question of the number of employment exchanges? He said there were 50. Does this include all the local exchanges? For instance, there are five in my own constituency, so I find it difficult to understand how there could be only 50 in the entire country.
The question refers to employment exchanges. There are 50 employment exchanges throughout the country. There are, in addition, 79 branch offices.
Would the Minister accept that in many employment exchanges and local branches offices there is considerable hardship being suffered by people signing on? In some instances there is danger because of passing traffic.
The various exchanges try to arrange for the unemployed to call at specified times and where this happens there is no problem. I accept that there can be problems especially when people come ahead of their time, which may suit them in particular circumstances but may cause difficulties.
I am very much concerned with improving the local office accommodation. There has been a considerable improvement and there is a sizeable programme in train at the moment. In the last few years new employment exchanges have been opened, six existing offices have been extended or renovated, five new exchanges will be opened during 1989 and into 1990 and seven existing offices will be improved during 1989. In addition, nine offices are planned for the future, subject to the financial resources being available. Therefore, 29 out of the 50 exchanges have been improved or opened and there is a plan for development of a further nine. We have a budget of £3 million this year for the improvement and development of exchanges plus another £700,000 to the Department of Social Welfare.
Would the Minister consider further arrangements for the reduction of the times that are required for signing on which would reduce the queues and help to prevent the humiliation of the needy which is happening at the moment where, in many instances, they are being treated like cattle at a mart?
I am not aware of any cases where people are treated in that way, but I accept that there are situations of crowding. I certainly will pass on the Deputy's view in relation to the timing.