Unemployment Assistance Processing Times

Summary

The Minister put the average processing time at eight weeks. He said decision-making would be devolved to local exchanges as quickly as staffing allowed, and agreed to consider a rural pilot scheme.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Fianna Fáil

What is the average waiting period in respect of a claim for unemployment assistance?

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Fergus O'Brien Mr. F. O'Brien Fine Gael

It varies.

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Máire Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Fianna Fáil

Perhaps the Minister would give us the longest and the shortest waiting periods.

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Fergus O'Brien Mr. F. O'Brien Fine Gael

The average period is eight weeks.

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Noel Treacy Mr. N. Treacy Fianna Fáil

The Minister said that he would be in a position to expedite the payment of unemployment assistance as soon as he had extra staff. How many extra staff does the Minister envisage will be needed?

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Fergus O'Brien Mr. F. O'Brien Fine Gael

We are talking about devolving this matter to the local exchanges and this could not be done overnight in one fell swoop. It will be done as quickly as possible where we have the necessary staff but it will not be done in one operation.

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Noel Treacy Mr. N. Treacy Fianna Fáil

It would seem to involve a deployment of staff.

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Fergus O'Brien Mr. F. O'Brien Fine Gael

Yes, devolving from the central to the local area.

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Pat the Cope Gallagher Mr. P. Gallagher Fianna Fáil

The Minister mentioned two pilot schemes which are both in urban areas, Cork and Drogheda. Would he consider a pilot scheme in a rural area, perhaps in Donegal? He is not at present getting a fair assessment by confining the pilot scheme to urban areas.

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Fergus O'Brien Mr. F. O'Brien Fine Gael

Certainly I will consider that.

15.

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