asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that discrimination exists for those who reside in local authority flat complexes in Dublin when they offer themselves for employment; and whether the far higher levels of unemployment occuring in these areas force people to use accommodation addresses to assist them in their quest for employment.

I am aware that this kind of allegation has been made for many years as regards people who live in public housing in urban areas. It is not new. Apart from raising the general level of social awareness and tolerance I believe that the only effective response lies in tackling the underlying unemployment problem, including targeting appropriate programmes on the groups and areas affected.