asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that several employment exchanges throughout the country are primitive in capacity and in design; and if it is intended to improve conditions for those who have to attend at these employment exchanges.

The Department have 44 departmentally staffed employment exchanges throughout the country and conditions in a number of these are unsatisfactory for both staff and public alike. I assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to improve existing accommodation and to provide entirely new accommodation, where this is the appropriate remedy.

Where does the Minister intend to have these improvements made? There are a number of exchanges in very bad condition.

We have opened a number of new employment exchanges — in Castlebar in 1983, Arklow in 1985, Apollo House in 1985, Washington Street, Cork, in 1983 and in 1982 we opened exchanges at Navan Road, Thomas Street and Dún Laoghaire. There are several other exchanges in different parts of the country which need to be improved. For instance, the accommodation in Galway is totally inadequate and efforts are being made by the Office of Public Works to acquire alternative premises as a matter of urgency. In Limerick the existing accommodation is also totally inadequate and suitable alternative premises have been indentified and the Office of Public Works are at present negotiating a lease.

Nominated question time is rapidly running out. We have to conclude at 3.30 p.m.

These are priority questions——

We have only 15 minutes.