asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the widespread unease in the north city area at reports that the Department of Social Welfare public offices in Phibsboro Tower, Dublin 7 is about to close; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Departmental Offices.
32.
The Deputy will be aware of the transfer of functions and staff of my Department dealing with widows' pensions and various social welfare allowance schemes from offices located in Phibsboro Tower, Dublin to new offices in Sligo under the Government's decentralisation scheme. The final phase of the transfer took place last weekend.
The public office in Phibsboro Tower has been an integral part of the widows' and orphans' pensions branch since it was established in that location. In the light of the Sligo transfer, its functions will in future be discharged as part of the services to be provided in Sligo where a new public office has been opened.
I have, however, carefully considered the resultant situation in the north city area and I have made arrangements to keep the Phibsboro public office open on an interim basis.