Vol. 416 No. 8
138 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the totally inadequate conditions for the staff and over 2,000 unemployed persons who sign on and receive weekly payments in the Balbriggan Social Welfare Exchange, County Dublin; whether he has any proposals to improve the situation; and if, in view of the distance, cost, and inconvenience for people travelling from Skerries, he will provide a social welfare office in Skerries.
There are approximately 2,200 persons registered at Balbriggan branch employment office at present. Some 1,400 of these are paid at the branch employment office each week and the remainder, who live more than six miles from the town, are paid at their local post office.
The branch employment office is managed on a contract basis by a branch manager who is required under the terms of her contract to provide suitable premises. The existing premises are considered to be inadequate for the current workload and the branch manager has recently taken definite steps to provide a more suitable office.
