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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Feb 1993

Vol. 425 No. 7

Written Answers. - Castlebar (Mayo) Employment Exchange.

Question:

150 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Social Welfare the action, if any, he proposes to take to improve conditions and facilities at the employment exchange in Castlebar, County Mayo, where large numbers of people have to queue on a weekly basis, often in inclement weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Woods

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

My Department is committed to improving its services and facilities for all its customers. Its plans for improved services include the substitution of cash payments by more modern payment methods and the introduction of more flexible signing arrangements. These innovations will dramatically improve the queuing difficulties being experienced at some of the Department's local offices at present.

The main queuing problem in the Department's Local Office in Castlebar arises essentially from the fact that some customers arrive outside the office from 9 a.m. onwards on pay days whereas the payout cannot begin until 10.15 a.m. when cash can be delivered by a local bank. The payout arrangements have been well established for many years and would be well known in the area. To facilitate customers the office extended the pay out time on Tuesdays into the afternoon in October last. More modern payment methods were introduced for just over 400 customers of the Castlebar Office in November, 1992. These customers now "sign on" monthly and are paid at their local Post Office by "Post-draft"; this means that payout times for them are considerably extended. It is hoped to extend modern payment methods to customers being paid in cash at this office in the near future.
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