Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 976: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason staff at the social welfare office in Newbridge County Kildare informed an unemployed person who wished to sign-on on 12 January 2009 that the office was closed for the day at 1.15pm; if this will be an ongoing matter; if other offices in the county or country are or will be operating similar practices; her plans to address this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1624/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Local Office in Newbridge, Co. Kildare was exceptionally busy on Monday 12 January 2009 and by lunchtime the public office was filled to its capacity with a significant number of people queuing outside the premises. The public area in the office had reached its capacity in terms of its ability to offer service to the public and local management formed the view that it was not safe to allow this build up to continue. It was decided therefore to close the office at 1 p.m. Members of the public already inside the building remained on the premises and were dealt with during the afternoon. At the time of closing, people outside the building were informed of the situation and requested to return on the following day.

This was a once-off decision made in response to the circumstances pertaining in Newbridge Social Welfare Local Office on the day in question with public safety in mind. It was not a planned closure nor are similar closures planned in Newbridge or elsewhere.