asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that registered unemployed persons residing inside three miles of a local employment exchange in Achill Island, County Mayo, have to travel three times weekly to sign so as to qualify for unemployment assistance benefit and, further, if he is aware that registered unemployed persons residing three miles or over from an employment exchange fulfil the necessary conditions by signing once weekly; and, if so, if he will have this matter investigated with a view to having the signing regulations changed to once weekly for all registered unemployed persons irrespective of distance from their local employment exchange.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment Exchanges Signing Regulations.
Statutory regulations governing the submission of evidence of unemployment have been framed so as to obviate, as far as practicable, inconvenience to applicants resident outside the immediate radius of a local office of my Department. These regulations require, inter alia, that:—
(a) persons who reside two miles or under from the local office nearest their place of residence must attend at that local office daily;
(b) those who reside over two miles but not more than four miles must attend at the local office on alternate days;
(c) those who reside over four miles but not more than six miles must attend at the local office once every week for payment and, in addition, furnish evidence of unemployment which has been certified by the Garda of the area in which they reside or otherwise as directed;
(d) those who reside over six miles from the nearest local office are excused attendance thereat but must furnish evidence of unemployment certified by the Garda of the area in which they reside or otherwise as directed.
It is considered that no undue hardship is imposed on persons resident in Achill Island or elsewhere in complying with these regulations and it is not proposed, therefore, to alter them.