asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it is intended (a) to provide a social welfare information office in Mallow, County Cork, (b) to provide alternative accommodation to the existing accommodation at the employment exchange in Mallow and (c) to provide alternative accommodation to the existing accommodation at the employment exchange in Fermoy.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Offices.
61.
The Department's employment offices in Mallow and Fermoy are run by branch managers who provide office accommodation and staffing under contract.
The number of unemployed claimants has undoubtedly placed considerable pressure on both the accommodation and staff of all the Department's local offices. The situation at each office is kept under constant review and improvements made as circumstances allow.
The accommodation and the service provided by the offices in question are regarded as generally satisfactory. Both offices have been refurbished recently and in the case of Mallow additional office space has been acquired. There are no plans at present to open a new information office in Mallow.
The Department also have an office in Mallow which accommodates social welfare officers and these officers provide a limited information service to the public in addition to that provided by the employment office.