A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, I wish to share my time with my colleague, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe.
Adjournment Debate. - Dunmanway (Cork) Employment Exchange.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I thank you, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to raise this very important matter with the Minister for Social Welfare. Approximately 650 people sign on at the employment exchange in Dunmanway. The number is rising daily. This is a very busy office as it serves those signing for unemployment benefit and assistance within a radius of approximately ten miles from Ballingeary in the north to Enniskean in the east, Drimoleague in the west to Rossmore in the south. It is expected that by the end of the month there will be over 700 applicants signing on at this exchange.
The Dunmanway employment exchange is a well established office, being in operation since the Unemployment Assistance Act of 1934. Down through the years the staff has been very co-operative to the people who need its services. Dunmanway has suffered severe unemployment in recent times. Ninety workers were made redundant from one of the main factories in the town last November and a further 35 from that same plant will lose their jobs. I appeal to the Minister not to add to the dismal record by proceeding or threatening to close the employment exchange.
Will the Minister state publicly tonight if it is his intention to close the employment exchanges in rural areas, because it has come to my notice that the files of smallholders drawing unemployment assistance were moved from the Skibbereen employment exchange sometime ago and transferred to the employment exchange in Hanover Street, Cork?
The Deputy's question dealt with Dunmanway exchange only and I cannot allow any extension.
He is thinking in broad terms.
Surely this is not proper treatment of a rural area by the Department. Will the Minister in his wisdom give an assurance that employment exchanges in rural towns in Ireland will not be threatened with closure in the foreseeable future?
I appreciate the co-operation of my constituency colleague, but together we are trying to retrieve a situation which is causing a lot of concern. Dunmanway is a town in the middle of our constituency which has suffered quite crushing blows with the loss of 184 jobs in the Molnlycke plant, which we debated some weeks ago. This was a disaster of "Digital" proportions to the town. The problem was further compounded by the loss of 30 jobs in the Interhat factory and a further 25 were let go from a nearby timber company. That is the background to the question of the retention of the employment exchange. The town is now being threatened with a further blow. The manager of the employment exchange is to retire and a question has been raised as to the future of the office. As mentioned by my colleague, approximately 650 sign on at the employment exchange and the number is rising by the day. Unfortunately, there is no prospect of a reduction in the number and seasonal lay-offs increase the figure even more.
The office has been in operation for approximately 50 years and the excellent staff is quite able and prepared to take over the running of the office. It must be emphasised that the lady members of staff have given good and energetic service for years past and there is no difficulty from the point of view of somebody taking over the job.
It would compound the problems in Dunmanway if this office were to close. The town is virtually on its knees. However, there is a voluntary community group fighting back, but it needs the support of the Government and State agencies. What we need at this stage is a clear and unequivocal confirmation that the employment office will remain open. Fine Gael appeal to the Minister to ensure that occurs and we demand an assurance that this cloud of gloom which has gathered over the town be lifted. Finally, a Minister from Dublin may not understand the impact of such a closure on a rural town like Dunmanway.
Deputy, I was down your way often.
I am glad to hear that, and indeed the Minister would be welcome again.
It is not just the staff — and they are very important to us — but the people who come in on a regular basis to sign on would be scattered in all directions and the businesses which have already suffered enormous blows would be devastated by this change. I urge the Minister to give us positive news on this tonight.
I appreciate the points made by the Deputies. My Department is currently providing a service for the unemployed in the Dunmanway area through the agency of a branch employment office. Offices of this kind are run by private individuals who are contracted by my Department to provide a limited range of services.
The manager of the branch employment office in Dunmanway has advised me that she wishes to terminate her contract with my Department at the beginning of April 1993. The retiring manager has provided an excellent service over the years. She has worked as branch manager since March 1957. I want to take this opportunity to thank her for her dedication and commitment and to wish her well in her retirement.
There are at present 76 branch employment offices and 52 local offices staffed by employees of my Department. The branch managers carry out their functions under the direction and control of the manager of the parent local office which, in the case of Dunmanway, is in Bantry. Deciding officers, who make the decisions on claims for unemployment benefit and assistance, are based in the Bantry office and claims are dealt with speedily.
Dunmanway branch office deals with approximately 660 clients each week. Over 400 of these clients sign on at local Garda stations and are paid through the network of post offices in the area. The remainder sign on and are paid at the Dunmanway branch office on a weekly basis. In addition to the branch office, there is an officer of my Department based in Dunmanway who is responsible for covering the full area serviced by the branch office. His office is open on Tuesday of each week to deal with general inquiries from the public and also to deal with the examination and assessment of claims across a variety of schemes operated by the Department.
I am mindful also of the other clients of my Department in the area, such as old age pensioners, lone parents, those on disability and those in receipt of child benefit. My ultimate aim in relation to the provision of services generally to the public is to ensure an up-to-date localised service across all the schemes operated by my Department.
In my view there is a growing need today for an information service on all social welfare schemes. In addition, many people want to be able to discuss their business in confidence with officials of my Department locally rather than have to write to Dublin, Sligo or Letterkenny. Recent advances in information technology have enabled my Department to extend the range of information which can be made available at local level.
I appreciate the Deputies' concern about the continuation of a service for the people of Dunmanway and I wish to assure the Deputies that my plans are for an improved service to all my Department's customers in the area.
Could the Minister tell us how?
The Minister's reply concludes the debate.