Vol. 414 No. 4
126 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the very poor conditions of his local office in Tullamore, County Offaly; the steps he intends to take to alleviate the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department have two offices in Tullamore. One of these deals only with claims from the unemployed. It is managed on a sub-contract or agency basis. The payments for the agency service include an allowance for the maintenance and upkeep of the premises.
The second office has departmental staff whose main duty up to now has been investigative work. There are facilities at this office for interviewing claimants and general advice and information can be obtained there.
My Department are introducing a modernised and overhauled system of management at regional and local level. Recently a regional manager was appointed to cover the midlands area, including County Offaly. Under the new system the provision of services at local level will be integrated and brought up to date.
My Department are also bringing in new payment methods which will, in time, mean that persons will not have to attend local social welfare offices to receive their weekly payments.
While the precise details for improved and more modern arrangements at Tullamore have not yet been defined, I am confident that the modernistion processes now under way will alleviate problems generally for persons who attend local offices.
