Vol. 405 No. 9
12 Mr. Kemmy asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has fixed a date for the official opening of the new employment exchange in Limerick city; and if he has made a decision regarding the disposal of the present exchange building.
Work on the construction of our new social welfare services office at Dominick Street, Limerick, is now almost complete. The new building will replace the existing employment exchanges at Cecil Street and Mungret Street and will also include accommodation for the Department's social welfare officers and medical referee who are located elsewhere in Limerick city. As a result, a wide range of social welfare services will be available under one roof, providing a co-ordinated service on one-stop shop lines, to our clients in the Limerick area. The official opening ceremony will take place this coming Thursday, 7 March 1991.
Will Deputy Kemmy be invited?
The Deputy will be invited, I am sure there is an overlap between his question and the invitation arriving. I like to get questions like this, a Cheann Comhairle. I extend an invitation to the press to come because it is very hard to get them when we are opening fine new facilities. The staff will transfer to the new office on a phased basis, commencing on the 9 March 1991. The office will open for business on Monday, 11 March 1991 and is expected to be fully operational by Tuesday, 19 March 1991.
When the existing offices are vacated by my Department the premises will be surrendered to the Commissioners of Public Works who are responsible for the management of State property. The Commissioners will decide, having regard to the State's property needs in the area, to retain or dispose of the premises in question. My Department have no function in this matter.
When I came into the House today I did not think I would be acting as the Minister's PR man during Question Time. As the Minister pointed out, there was an overlap between putting down my question and getting an official invitation from him to attend the opening next Thursday of the new exchange in Limerick. I had not then got the invitation and an official date had not been announced. Perhaps my question inspired the Minister to formally open the exchange.
The old building was a Victorian, Dickensian building and I am glad now people using the exchange in Limerick will treat it with the dignity it deserves when they go to that office. As the Minister knows, we are in the middle of an urban renewal programme in Limerick and I hope he will use his good offices to ensure that the development on the site of the old building will be suitable and will harmonise with existing buildings in that area.
We will note that for the Office of Public Works. I say to the Deputy that I was very pleased to be able to open the office at this time in this very special year in Limerick, the 300th anniversary celebration of the Siege, and we look forward to meeting the Deputy down there later in the week.
Question No. 13, please.
One last point. I am glad the Minister turned the question to his advantage. I will not be able to travel down in his State car on Thursday morning. I hope there will no votes in the Dáil to stop me getting to Limerick and I hope to see him around noon in Limerick on Thursday at the opening of that new building.
We are delighted Deputy Michael Noonan got that for Limerick.
