Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

Is there an industrial relations issue or not? Will the Minister clarify the issue with regard to the appointment system, to dealing with long delays in branch offices and to processing being done by departmental staff? She indicated earlier the CPSU was at fault on those fronts.

Has the Minister a figure for the current number of staff vacancies? When will the central support office for Wexford be up and running? Does the Minister accept there is a need to look at procedures. Two complaints were brought to my attention recently with regard to a person who had applied for jobseeker's allowance. A social welfare officer called to the House without an appointment and then had to return the following week. In the second case, a means assessment was not carried out for somebody on jobseeker's benefit until the person's last week on that benefit, another delay. Does the Minister accept there is potential for tightening the procedures being used?

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