Vol. 370 No. 2
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposals, if any, which have emerged from discussions with the staff in her Department in Limerick city employment exchange arising from their dispute on working conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
123.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the present position in relation to the industrial dispute at Limerick employment exchange; if she is aware that no post is being opened at present, and no new claims are being dealt with after the social welfare officer has called to see claimants; and if she is aware of the hardship which will be incurred by these people due to this delay in dealing with claims.
136.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if she is aware of the go-slow in the employment exchange in Limerick; if she is further aware that this is causing inconvenience to recipients of social welfare benefits; the plans she has to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 113, 123, and 136 together.
Staff at the employment exchange, Limerick, who are members of the CPSSU are at present engaged in limited industrial action which is related to accommodation problems and the proposed construction of a new employment exchange in Limerick. In pursuance of their claim to have work started on the new employment exchange, the staff are refusing to deal with telephone calls and have recently stopped handling official incoming post. The latter action affects postal applicants and new claimants.
Postal applicants for unemployment benefit or assistance, normally receive their payments at their local post offices. Suitable alternative arrangements have been made with An Post to ensure that those claimants continue to receive a weekly payment. New applicants for unemployment payments whose applications have not been processed at the employment exchange are being dealt with through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme pending the resolution of the dispute.
Officials of the Department of Social Welfare in seeking a solution to the dispute are in constant touch with the union concerned and with the Office of Public Works who are responsible for the purchase of the new site and the erection of the building. It is understood that the contract of purchase is about to be signed between the owners of the site and the Office of Public Works and that construction work on the new exchange will commence in the latter months of 1987. In the meantime, a temporary exchange in Mungret Street to cater for female applicants is expected to be ready for occupation by the middle of next year. The union has been kept informed of developments and in the light of the positive elements that have emerged it is hoped that the members of the union will agree to resume normal duties at the employment exchange.
