Vol. 446 No. 5
80 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social Welfare the action, if any, he will take to arrange payments to social welfare recipients with reasonable efficiency in view of the fact that the current service in Finglas South post office is taking up to 30 minutes with the queue extending to the street; and, if the terms of his contract with An Post allows this type of service. [2412/94]
An Post delivers payments to Social Welfare customers in accordance with the terms of a service agreement between my Department and the Company. An Post operates a formal system of internal monitoring of service quality at all post offices to ensure that standards, including queuing times are being maintained. This monitoring system has shown that queuing problems tend to be concentrated in the first hour of business in the mornings and the company advises customers that speedier service is available outside this period.
This monitoring system recently highlighted an unacceptable increase in queuing times during peak business hours at Cappagh post office in South Finglas. To resolve the problem, An Post has now installed an additional automated service point at Cappagh post office. My Department has been assured by An Post that this new service point will restore the quality of service to acceptable levels. An Post has been asked to specially monitor services at Cappagh post office and to take any further action necessary to ensure that the difficulties mentioned by the Deputy do not recur.
81 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Welfare in view of the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin, his views on whether the person concerned should have her two days unemployment benefit per week reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2454/94]
The person concerned was paid unemployment benefit from 2 March 1987 to 20 March 1994 when her entitlement expired as she had been paid for the maximum 390 days benefit. She made inquiries regarding further payment of unemployment benefit and was advised, verbally, that to requalify she would require 13 Class A contributions paid after the date of cessation and would also have to have lost at least one days employment.
The person concerned continues to be employed three days per week and her pattern of employment from 1987 remains unchanged. She has not made a repeat claim for unemployment benefit.
She applied for unemployment assistance on 21 March 1994. This is a means tested payment and she is being paid at the rate appropriate in her case, from 21 March 1994 to date.
