Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As I will not have an opportunity to speak again, I want to take the opportunity to thank the Acting Chairman, the Ceann Comhairle, the staff and the broadcasting services. I wish my party colleagues and all Deputies the best of luck in the future, including in the upcoming election.

I thank the Minister for his reply, which I did not get a copy of, but is there a timeframe in terms of people submitting their application for the redundancy payment? What is the normal timeframe for processing those applications? I appreciate what the Minister said about the individual cases. That should happen in practice but it does not always happen. I know that great assistance is generally given by staff in Intreo offices but can the Minister do anything to raise awareness among staff in the offices closest to the Xtra-vision stores that are closing that there will be a need to give assistance to the former staff of the stores? I accept there are many stores involved but it should be possible to identify particular social welfare offices whose staff could be informed that people will be in need of assistance. It is to ensure there is an awareness among the Department of Social Protection staff that this will happen and to be prepared for it.

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