asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the leases of employment offices and the particular conditions regarding the forms of payment to branch managers at the unemployment exchanges in County Galway; if there are any per capita payments to those from whom premises are rented; and if he has satisfied himself regarding conditions at such exchanges.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Unemployment Exchanges.
3.
I take it that the Deputy's question refers to the branch employment offices operated for my Department in County Galway. There are five such offices, located in Ballinasloe, Gort, Loughrea, Oughterard and Tuam.
Each office is operated by a branch manager who is appointed under a contract for service. The function of the branch manager is to act as an agent for the Department; to accept claims and issue payments in respect of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance. Under the terms of the contract the manager is obliged to provide suitable office accommodation in respect of which the Department pay an allowance towards the costs involved.
The Department are not party to any lease or other arrangements entered into by branch managers in connection with the provision of premises. This is an entirely private matter between branch managers and the owners of the properties concerned.
The rate of the accommodation allowance referred to is determined by the number of unemployed persons registered at each office. Apart from that allowance, branch managers are paid a basic salary of £10,575 per annum plus additional remuneration based on the number of registrants in excess of the first 100 on their register.
Branch managers are also paid additional amounts for certain specific items of work such as pay related benefit payments, butter vouchers issued under the EC butter scheme; cases dealt with under the Government's Jobsearch programme and for completed registration forms furnished to the National Manpower Service in connection with the Youth Employment Agency scheme. An annual leave allowance is also payable.
With regard to the question of accommodation, there has been considerable pressure in recent years on all of the Department's offices and branch offices due to the high levels of unemployment. The situation in each office is kept under review and arrangements are made where possible, to reduce waiting times and the need for queuing. It is considered that the premises currently in use as branch employment offices in County Galway are adequate for present needs.
I notice the interesting form of payments to which the Minister referred, which is a basic salary plus a headage allowance, if you like. He refers to the suitability of accommodation. Can it be presumed that suitability will include the provision of privacy? Secondly, does it include adequate opening hours? For example, in regard to the Loughrea exchange there are 700 people unemployed who have to appear there twice a week, once to sign and the second time to get their money. Why have those people to come twice? Thirdly, in relation to conditions generally, is the Minister happy with the siting of these offices in County Galway which he mentions?
As the Deputy probably is aware, I should personally like to see a much higher standard in the offices throughout the country as a whole; that would be our objective. Particularly, we are interested in the one stop shop concept which ties in with that, that there would be better facilities wherever possible and that they would be on a coordinated basis. We are building privacy into the offices that we are developing now. We are providing separate cubicles or sections which give a good degree of privacy. If the Deputy feels that this is not feasible in the present circumstances in some of these branches, I shall have a look at that matter. It may not be feasible short term, but I appreciate the need for privacy and would be anxious to do anything that could be done about it.
I am grateful for the Minister's assurance. It has been indicated to his Department that no arrangements for privacy are available in three of the five exchanges referred to and I appreciate the Minister's commitment in that regard. I also asked why people had to appear twice at the exchanges, particularly in circumstances where facilities are limited, but also in so far as the times that are advertised for attendance are concerned. Is it reasonable to open an office for one hour and expect 700 people to attend within that hour? This is the condition which prevails at one of the exchanges mentioned in the Minister's reply.
The times of opening are normally matters arranged locally to suit both the clients and the people providing the service. If there are specific problems, I shall certainly undertake to the Deputy to look into them.
Do I understand that the manager appointed by the Department in the general Galway area has a responsibility to investigate and report on the conditions of all these exchanges? Will the Minister undertake to have all these matters examined and reported on to his Department?
I shall undertake to have them examined and reported on to me direct.