Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The important thing is to ensure that payments are not affected. Some 1,200,000 payments are made every week by the Department and although we have issues concerning telephones not being answered or offices not being covered, claims are being taken and processed and money is being paid. That is the crucial element at this stage. However, I appreciate the frustration Deputies feel.

Regarding the questions raised by Deputy Enright, I was assured by the Secretary General that there is now a more streamlined payment process in place for people who go to FÁS for short courses and then return to welfare. That is a matter we would wish to keep under review but it was raised and discussed in the Chamber and I am assured now that the system is in place.

Local officers and offices have an obligation to ensure that people are actively seeking work and when people come to sign on they are expected to provide that information. It would be very helpful if the employer mentioned by the Deputy - there may well be others-----

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