asked the Minister for Social Welfare if arrangements could be made to accommodate people who have to sign on from the Dublin 12 area at the employment exchange in Tallaght, Dublin 24.
624.
Written Answers. - Dublin Employment Exchanges.
623.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason people from the Dublin 12 area were transferred for signing on purposes from Victoria Street employment exchange, Dublin 8, to Apollo House employment exchange, Dublin 2; and if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to those people due to the increased distances they have to travel.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 623 and 624 together. Women from the Dublin 12 postal district claiming unemployment benefit or assistance were transferred to the new exchange at Apollo House, Tara Street, because of severe overcrowding at the Victoria Street employment exchange. It is accepted that moving any claimants to the new exchange causes a certain amount of inconvenience, at least in the initial stages. However, the transfer of the approximately 1,850 women claimants in the Dublin 12 area in this way was the only viable solution to the problems of congestion at the Victoria Street exchange. Unemployed men for the Dublin 12 area continue to sign on at Werburgh Street employment exchange.
Parts of the Dublin 12 area are adjacent to Tallaght. Because, however, of the limited size of the new temporary employment exchange in Tallaght, it would not be possible for unemployed people from Dublin 12 to be accommodated at that office.
Plans for the provision of additional employment exchanges in outlying city areas where they are required are being pursued as a matter of priority. In the meantime, however, it is necessary to take whatever measures are possible to relieve the pressure on claimants and staff alike because of the congestion at certain city exchanges.
625.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 was turned down when he applied for optical benefit.
A claim to optical benefit was received from the person concerned on 7 March 1985. The claim was refused because the contributions which he paid at Class D1 while he was employed in a permanent and pensionable capacity with Dublin Corporation are not reckonable for optical benefit. Notification to this effect was issued to him on 3 April 1985.
626.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12 who has been self-employed for the past four years and is going out of business shortly is entitled to assistance from his Department.
Entitlement to unemployment assistance is subject to the condition that the applicant is a holder of a qualification certificate and that she is unemployed and available for and genuinely seeking work.
The person concerned should apply for unemployment assistance by calling or writing to her nearest local office and completing an application form. Her case would then be investigated after which her means would be assessed and her entitlement to unemployment assistance would be determined by a deciding officer of the Department.