asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the delay caused when recipients of unemployment benefit are transferred to unemployment assistance; and if he will take steps to ensure speedier payment of unemployment assistance in such cases.

In general, there should be no delay in paying unemployment assistance in the circumstances mentioned. If the Deputy will convey to me particulars of any individual cases of delay of which he may be aware, I shall have them investigated.

40.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will take steps to ensure that in future all recipients of unemployment assistance in rural areas will be required to have evidence of unemployment certified only once per week.

Under the arrangements for the proving of unemployment by recipients of unemployment assistance in rural areas, it is only those unemployed persons who live within four miles of a local office of my Department who are required to furnish evidence of unemployment more frequently than once a week. As I have indicated to the Deputy on several occasions in reply to previous questions, I do not propose to alter the existing arrangements.