Vol. 412 No. 1
86 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has received representations from managers of branch employment offices who are worried about a loss in income resulting from the new payment procedures for unemployment assistance recipients; whether his Department have indicated to these employment exchanges that persons over 55 years of age on unemployment assistance would not have to sign on each week; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department are committed to a strategy of improving client service, and to a more cost-effective utilisation of resources. An integral part of this strategy is the implementation of a new regional management structure, the creation of one-stop-shops through the localisation of the Department's services, and the introduction of modern payment methods for all social welfare claimants.
The main focus at present is the introduction of new payment methods and more flexible signing arrangements for unemployed claimants at local offices. A first step in this process is the transfer of long term unemployment assistance (LTUA) clients over the age of 55 to a book payment system.
Persons transferred to this system will be given a book of personalised payable orders cashable at a nominated post office convenient to them. In addition, most persons aged over 55 on the book payment system will only be required to sign on once every month. The arrangements have already been implemented for clients who attend departmentally staffed offices. It is intended to extend them as soon as possible to those attending branch employment offices which are run by branch managers who are employed under a contract for service by my Department.
There are regular meetings between officials of my Department and the branch managers association which represents the managers of the branch employment offices. Through these meetings, my Department are aware of the concerns of the association regarding the impact of the proposed changes on their workloads. In June I met a group of branch managers to discuss their concerns. In addition, a senior official of my Department recently addressed the annual general meeting of the branch managers association and outlined the current developments under way in the Department. Discussions in relation to these matters are continuing.
