Martin Brady (Fianna Fail)

Many points have been made but I want to speak on an issue I raised earlier, when the Minister was not here and a Minister of State was in attendance. We all deal with constituents and people who feel vulnerable and in trouble. The main complaint I get in my constituency in Donaghmede is that people try to contact the local social welfare office in Kilbarrack but the phone rings out for half an hour. That may be an exaggeration but the point is the people cannot get an answer from social welfare staff.

I end up sending clients to the office because the service is inadequate. They feel nobody wants to know about them and nobody bothers with them so when I send them to the office, there is a queue. These people are treated like dirt. One might not think I am on the Government side saying this but these are the complaints I get.