Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:125 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to appoint a full time information officer at the Employment Exchange in Thomas Street, Dublin 8.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Information Service.
It is my policy to expand the social welfare information service and make it more readily accessible at a local level. At present the information offices in Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Tallaght and Clondalkin cater for persons within the catchment area of Thomas Street employment exchange. There are also information offices in the city centre at Pearse Street and Amiens Street. I intend, as resources permit, to appoint further information officers at other centres including employment exchanges in the Dublin area which do not have an information officer at present.
Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:126 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of full time information officers who are employed exclusively to inform the public of their social welfare entitlements at the 34 centres around the country.
A total of 60 staff are employed in the Department's 34 information offices around the country.
In addition 12 staff are employed in the central information unit which is located in the Department's headquarters in Dublin. In addition to providing a back-up service to the centres around the country, these staff are also engaged in the direct dissemination of information on social welfare entitlements.