asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware of the hardship caused to applicants for unemployment assistance from the Cromane district who are compelled to attend at the exchange office, Killorglin, five and a half miles distant; and whether he will arrange for the payment of their allowance to these applicants at the local post office in Cromane.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kerry Unemployment Assistance.
The position has been further examined as indicated in my reply to a similar question from the Deputy on the 26th March, 1953, and no reason is seen to depart from the general procedure which requires that persons residing less than six miles from the nearest local office, in this case Killorglin Branch Employment Office, must attend at that office for payment.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that it is unreasonable to ask these men to go to Killorglin, six miles away, when facilities could be provided for them at the local post office in their own district?
All applicants residing in the Cromane area have proof of unemployment certified at the signing centre at Cromane where a Garda from Killorglin attends weekly.
It is a punitive measure and nothing else.