asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider changing the social welfare regulations to allow unemployed people to take holidays without any loss of benefit as a result of not being at home to sign the employment register.

The policy in relation to signing arrangements for unemployed people claiming benefit is based on the basic requirement to maintain control over claims. I am, however, sympathetically disposed towards the idea put forward by the Deputy and I have been reviewing the signing arrangements with a view to seeing what can be done in such circumstances. I would hope that it will prove possible to make suitable arrangements within the scope of existing legislation.

I hope the Minister will examine this in detail with a view to helping those unfortunate people who are unemployed throughout the country. The unemployed status is inclined to dominate their lives and it would be an act of kindness to let them get away from their mundane living for short periods.

Is the Minister aware that many of those people require to go away from home to seek employment either in Ireland or in England and they are at a loss of benefit during that time? Would he try to redress that unfairness?

I agree with both Deputies and I am examining this closely. I hope to have some arrangements made to meet it.

When? Will it be early in 1984?

Early.

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