Vol. 415 No. 2
19 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the serious under-manning of the social welfare office at Lismore, County Waterford and the lengthy delays being experienced by people waiting to claim their social welfare payments causing considerable queues on the public thoroughfare; and if he will outline his plans to rectify the situation.
Since last June the social welfare office in Lismore has been run directly by my Department. Prior to that it was a branch office managed under contract by a private individual. It is currently manned two days a week for signing and information purposes.
Fortnightly signing was introduced for claimants last November to relieve them of the inconvenience of having to attend at the office each week. Claimants were also allocated specific signing times. Both these measures have worked well and have reduced queuing to a minimum.
The one exception was on 7 January when an unanticipated increase in the number of first-time claimants gave rise to queues. The circumstances then were exceptional and my Department are satisfied that the arrangements in place are adequate to cater for the normal workloads at the office. However, the situation will be kept under review.
