I am pleased to have an opportunity to raise an issue which is important to the people of Cork. The Cork office of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs has been closed to the public every afternoon since 16 March and there has been a complete ban on telephone inquiries. The dispute is in its sixth week.
The Department deals with the public on a regular basis. A huge welfare community depends on it for income and services. It is not acceptable that the vulnerable and those who depend on State hand-outs should be treated in this way. In reply to a written parliamentary question on this matter, the Minister informed me the dispute relates to changes in workloads and work procedures. It appears the staff may have a genuine grievance but I am sure they are not happy with the dispute.
There are conflicting reports as to whether the Department has been in discussion with the unions. Will the Minister clarify the position in that regard? It is not acceptable that the people of Cork can avail of the services of the Department for only two and a half hours every day. Those whose queries are not dealt with on a particular day must return the following day. I have received many queries about this matter. People are concerned. They think they are abused because they are dependent on the State. The only options open to them are to write to the Department or telephone the Letterkenny office and this does not suit many people. I spoke to community welfare officers who said they were taking on a great deal of the burden. There is no doubt there will be a backlog because the dispute is in its sixth week and many queries are not being dealt with, which is unsatisfactory.
What have the Minister and the Department done to resolve the dispute? It must be resolved as soon as possible in the interests of the people of Cork, the staff, who are not happy with the way their grievance has been dealt with, and the Minister and his Government.