asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware of the grave hardships imposed on unemployed persons in Dublin south west by reason of having to attend the employment exchange of Werburgh Street, particularly in viewof the increase in bus fares; and, if so, whether he will request C.I.E. to provide transport during the winter months from Crumlin, Kimmage and Drimnagh to the Werburgh Street employment exchange for unemployed women and men.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Unemployed.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that unemployed men resident in the Crumlin area are obliged to travel to and from Werburgh Street employment exchange three or four times weekly; which, owing to the long distance they have to travel by bus, imposes a serious strain on their limited means due to the increased bus fares; and if, with a view to giving some relief in this respect, he will recommend to C.I.E. to consider the making of some arrangement for reduced fares on production of an unemployed receipt card.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Question Nos. 3 and 4 together. A person seeking unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance is statutorily required to prove unemployment by signing the unemployed register at the nearest employment exchange or branch employment office at regular intervals, depending on the distance he or she resides from the exchange or office. In Dublin personal attendance for signature of the register is only required on alternate days. I do not consider that attendance three times weekly imposes a great hardship on persons resident in Kimmage or Crumlin or Drimnagh particularly in view of the convenience of the public transport services from these points to the men's exchange in Werburgh Street and the women's exchange in Victoria Street.
Under Section 20 (2) of the Transport Act, 1950, it is provided that the board of C.I.E. may fix, demand, take and recover such charges as the board sees fit for services provided by it. The statutory position is, therefore, that the Minister for Industry andCommerce has no functions in regard to the charges made by C.I.E. and, accordingly, I am unable to request or recommend to C.I.E. that reduced fares on the public transport system be granted to unemployed persons.