Ray Burke
Ceist:424 Mr. Burke asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will agree to change the payout day at the Balbriggan Employment Exchange from Tuesday to Thursday.
Written Answers. - County Dublin Employment Exchange Payments.
There are approximately 2,200 persons registered as unemployed at Balbriggan branch office at present. Of the 1,400 claimants who attend the office once weekly, approximately 850 are paid unemployment assistance on Tuesdays and 450 are paid unemployment benefit on Wednesdays, the remaining 100 are signing for credited contributions. In addition there are 800 postal payments processed on Thursdays for distribution to claimants by post for encashment at post offices on Friday. The arrangements provide the best means of ensuring that all payments issue on time each week.
The Tuesday pay out for unemployment assistance was introduced in January 1991 at Balbriggan branch office and it is in line with the situation which applies generally throughout the country in local offices catering for claim-loads of this size. I understand that the arrangement suits the vast majority of claimants and I believe that a change is not warranted.