asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will arrange for the setting up in consultation with the health and local authorities a system of citizens' advice bureaux in all major centres of population.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Citizens' Advice Bureaux.
11.
Information on the services administered by my Department is available from a number of sources. For instance, there is an information section at headquarters which deals with general inquiries by telephone or letter, and the officer in charge of this section gives lectures throughout the country to trade union and voluntary groups. Personal callers are dealt with at two public offices in Dublin city, and officers have been specially assigned to deal with inquiries at the employment exchanges in Galway, Sligo, Athlone, Tralee, Wexford and Drogheda. Inquiries may also be made at the other employment exchanges and employment offices, and from social welfare officers and local agents of the Department. In addition, the Department's information booklet is available for consultation at post offices, and is widely circulated free of charge. In these circumstances I am not convinced of the need for setting up advice bureaux in relation to the social security services.