Angry scenes in Dáil over social welfare delays
There were angry scenes in the Dáil this afternoon over Fine Gael claims that hundreds of people losing their jobs are being left waiting for up to three months before getting their social welfare benefits.
The Minister for Social Affairs replied that only eight offices around the country currently have waiting lists longer than ten weeks, and that the average waiting time nationally is three weeks.
Mary Hanafin said 57 of 115 staff being re-deployed to areas where there are delays are now in place and more will come on stream in the next few weeks.
