Vol. 470 No. 8
118 Mrs. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social Welfare when he proposes to introduce the household budget scheme in the Killarney area of County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20089/96]
At present the household budgeting scheme is available to people receiving unemployment payments through the Post Office network by means of postdraft payment. This requires the full computerisation of the client base at the local social welfare office. Where services to the unemployed are provided through a social welfare branch office, such as Killarney, the necessary degree of computerisation has not yet been achieved to allow household budgeting to be offered to customers. Further computerisation of social welfare branch offices is contingent on discussions with the branch managers' association on the future role of these offices. These discussions will commence in the near future and, pending the outcome, it is not possible to indicate when the introduction of the household budgeting scheme in the area in question will be implemented.
