Michael Creed
Ceist:48 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason correspondence issuing from his Department is handwritten; if he accepts that this is unacceptable; and the steps he intends taking to rectify the matter.
Written Answers. - Department Correspondence.
It is understood that the question relates to certain manuscript replies issued to the Deputy in reply to representations made by him in relation to pension cases.
The normal practice in my Department is to provide typed replies in response to all such representations. When replying to the Deputy on 4 and 28 February 1990, however, manuscript replies were issued. These replies were issued during the course of a special exercise which was undertaken to process a large volume of work which had arisen in the pensions services office following decentralisation. Typed versions of the replies originally sent in manuscript have now been issued. I would like to take this opportunity to compliment the staff in Sligo for diligence and efficiency in serving the public during this period.