asked the Minister for Social Welfare, having regard to the expense and hardship being experienced by recipients of unemployment assistance in rural areas who have to travel long distances especially in bad weather to the nearest Garda barracks to sign, if he will give favourable consideration to their position especially those nearing retiring age; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Pre-Retirement Allowance Scheme.
150.
I appreciate the concerns referred to by the Deputy and I am glad to be able to inform him of the following developments.
Firstly, arrangements are now in hand to implement the pre-retirement allowance with effect from 1 March 1990. This allowance will be payable by means of a weekly pension order book encashable at a post office. Those eligible to apply for the allowance are all unemployed persons over age 60 in receipt of the long-term rate of unemployment assistance who opt to retire from the labour market before pension age. The maximum rate of allowance payable will be the same as the maximum rate of long-term unemployment assistance. Those who opt to participate in the scheme will no longer have to attend at their employment exchange office or at the Garda station signing centre.
An information leaflet on the new scheme together with a form on which to apply will be issued to all long-term unemployment assistance applicants over aged 60 within the next few weeks.
In addition, shortly after the pre-retirement allowance is in operation, it is proposed to introduce special arrangements for persons over age 55 who are in receipt of unemployment assistance at the long-term rate. Persons in this category will be able to elect to sign on at their employment exchange office or attend at the local Garda signing centre once every three months only while being paid weekly at their local post office by means of postal warrants.