asked the Minister for Social Welfare the response, if any, he has made to representations from the Irish Transport and General Workers Union regarding the provision of facilities for unemployed people in outlying Dublin areas who experience considerable financial hardship in having to attend centre city employment exchanges.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Employment Exchanges.
13.
I recently met a deputation from the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union at which the question of providing facilities for unemployed people in outlying Dublin areas was discussed.
I informed the deputation that I propose to provide employment exchanges in suitable areas in the suburbs of Dublin. I also said that it was expected that sites for such exchanges would be available shortly in Ballyfermot, Coolock, Finglas and Navan Road.
The Minister will recall discussing in the House recently the difficulties these people are experiencing due to the intermittent transport and postal services. Can the Minister give us any indication if he has come up with proposals to provide for a better method of payment on a permanent basis in what I would prefer to call the county Dublin area rather than the outlying areas of Dublin?
My general approach is to endeavour to decentralise the employment exchanges, to try and provide them in outlying areas, suburbs——
But that is a long-term.
No, if we get the sites we will put up prefabs very quickly.
Would the Minister appreciate that the man who is experiencing difficulty this week would hope to be back in employment, if the Minister's colleague's forecasts are correct, before sites might be obtained and prefabs erected? I am asking what are the prospects for a better method of payment to him in the interim?
The Deputy is being regrettably tendentious.
There were various proposals made that these payments might be made through offices attached to health centres or local Garda stations. There were a variety of options put up to the Minister.
These are temporary emergency arrangements only which would not be satisfactory in the long term. I can assure the Deputy that, in co-operation with the Office of Public Works, we are actually combing these areas for suitable sites. The intention is that, as soon as we have the sites, we will erect prefab accommodation to have employment exchanges out around the edges of the city. I think that is the answer and it will be done as quickly as possible.
I accept that, but I think the Minister has named only five centres.
These are the ones for which sites will be available shortly—— Ballyfermot, Coolock, Finglas and Navan Road. We are also looking for sites in Tallaght and various other suitable areas.
The Minister will appreciate that there are three new towns being built in the western part of Dublin, in Tallaght, in Blanchardstown and in Lucan/Clondalkin, each of which will shortly have a population of 100,000?
We are looking at all these areas. If the Deputy in his capacity as a Dublin county councillor can be of any assistance to us, we will be very grateful. We are pressing strongly in the case of Tallaght to get a site there.
The unfortunate county council is being made the St. Jude of every other public body.
Order. Question No. 14.