asked the Minister for Social Welfare the cost to his Department of maintaining and renting employment exchange offices in Enniscorthy, County Wexford; and the proposals for a more suitable premises.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Enniscorthy Employment Exchange Offices.
6.
(Mayo West): My Department's employment office in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, is run by a branch manager who is obliged by the terms of the contract of her employment to provide office accommodation. All branch managers are paid a standard rate allowance towards the cost of providing employment office premises. This allowance stands at £850 per annum at present.
It is understood that the branch manager, Enniscorthy, has been seeking other accommodation for the employment office but has not yet been successful.
Is the Minister of State aware that the office at present being used by the Enniscorthy employment exchange is very antiquated and unsatisfactory? Is he aware that many public representatives from different parties have made strong representations to his office and his predecessor's office to get new facilities? What proposals are forthcoming in view of the fact that in Enniscorthy the Department of Social Welfare have another office which is also unsuitable? What proposals are there to combine the two in a new office?
(Mayo West): We realise that the position is not entirely satisfactory. We have reports that there is queuing at different times, which is unsatisfactory. This is caused mostly when people come in to draw their benefits. They have been advised not to come so early so that this overcrowding will not occur, but we have not been successful in trying to induce them to follow this line of action. The manager has been trying to get better premises but has not been successful, as I stated in my reply.
Would the Minister of State give a commitment, in view of the fact that the Department of Labour are seeking to have a Manpower office established in Enniscorthy — at the moment they have to operate in hotels on a one day a week clinic — that the building occupied by the vocational school in Enniscorthy, which is due to move to a new premises, would be considered as a premises for giving Social Welfare information, a Manpower office and an employment exchange?
(Mayo West): I am not aware of the information the Deputy has made available. It is the practice that the manager who has contracted to work the labour exchange for my Department in Enniscorthy should try to provide suitable premises and I understand she is doing this. I will convey the Deputy's suggestion to my Department to see if it can be followed up in the interest of providing more suitable premises in the area.