asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the fact that large numbers of unemployedworkers live in the area of Ballyfermot, he will make arrangements to enable them to sign for the receipt of unemployment benefit and assistance at Chapelizod so that their present inadequate incomes will not continue to be reduced by substantial bus fares which they must now incur in order to sign at the city exchanges.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ballyfermot Unemployed.
Persons seeking unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance must prove unemployment by signing the unemployed register at the nearest employment exchange or branch employment office where payment of benefit or assistance is also made. It is not possible at present to arrange for unemployed persons from Ballyfermot to receive these facilities in Chapelizod where the Department has no local office.
Would it not be possible to arrange in respect of a number of thickly populated areas around Dublin, which are a considerable distance from the existing exchanges, that part of the local Garda station or the local vocational school could be used for the purpose of a temporary employment exchange?
I should like to point out to the Deputy that, in the case of women from the Ballyfermot area, they are required to sign only once a week at the Chapelizod Garda Station. The Minister has under active consideration for some time past the question of facilities and labour exchanges generally in various areas.
Would it not solve the problem if people in these areas were obliged merely to sign a declaration in the presence of a Peace Commissioner?
That would take up a lot of the time of the Peace Commissioners who hold unpaid offices.
We could increase their number.