On a national basis is the Minister aware that fraudulent social welfare claims were being made by the itinerant community? The Minister will be well aware that in 1980 the Department decided that all unsettled itinerants would have to sign on a certain day between 11 o'clock and 12 noon, usually a Thursday. Is the Minister aware that while that decision did curtail the number of itinerants who were apparently claiming and receiving benefits at different employment exchanges, that regulation is no longer being rigidly enforced? Furthermore, is the Minister and her Department aware that the specified times for signing, between 11 o'clock and 12 noon, meant that many itinerants chose employment exchanges in close proximity when they were able to circumvent the regulations by dashing at break-neck speed from one to another between 11 and 12 noon? Has the Minister's Department any evidence to support that allegation?

I am sorry but I do not have answers to those detailed questions. I will have to communicate with the Deputy separately on that issue because I have not the specific information to hand.

I have the answer here, a Cheann Comhairle.

Will the Deputy make it available to the Minister?

With regard to unsettled itinerants, is the Minister's Department aware of or have they taken any steps to investigate the extent of such abuse or to remedy the possibility of many of them claiming unemployment assistance? It appears they are not too concerned about the amount of money they receive from such unemployment assistance except that they are interested in getting a qualification certificate which would further entitle them to visit community welfare officers in any part of the country and receive supplementary welfare payments in addition to their unemployment assistance.

As I said to the Deputy a moment ago, I do not have the information to hand to answer all those detailed questions concerning the travelling community. I should be glad if the Deputy would communicate with me separately or put down separate questions on that issue when I will be happy to help him.

In view of the report and the various other investigations that have taken place — which the Minister has conceded exist — have her Department any plans for the compilation of a central register of itinerants and vagrants, or people of no fixed abode?

That is certainly a separate question.

This is a specific issue which I am sure the Minister would examine very thoroughly. It is in relation to fraudulent claims by itinerants. There was a recommendation made that a central register of itinerants and vagrants, or people of no fixed abode, should be compiled and that they should sign at a fixed time each week. Have the Minister's Department any plans to implement that recommendation?

I would have to ask the Deputy to put down a separate question on the whole issue of the travelling community.