asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider establishing a full time employment office in Mitchelstown, County Cork.

Under existing arrangements unemployment persons from the Mitchelstown area have their weekly unemployment benefit and assistance claims certified at the local Garda station and they are paid at Mitchelstown post office. These arrangements are working satisfactorily and the opening of an employment office in Mitchelstown is not contemplated.

Having regard to the increasing unemployment in the Mitchelstown area, would the Minister not agree that the situation has been reached where there is not the capacity to deal with the numbers claiming unemployment benefit and assistance and that consequently there is a need for an employment office there?

The present arrangements in Mitchelstown in respect of social welfare payments are operating satisfactorily. There have been no complaints from the public in that regard. Deputy Myra Barry made representations on this matter in November 1983. In February 1977 the then Deputy Cronin raised the matter of the provision of an unemployment exchange at Mitchelstown. However, having regard to the numbers of unemployed there and the fact that the present arrangements are proving satisfactory, the opening of an employment exchange in the town is not considered warranted.