Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I apologise for my late entry. I assumed my matter was No. 4 but it is No. 1. I tabled this matter on the basis of a few experiences I have had in recent times. The first relates to a person who has serious health problems, who is not and will never be fit to work again. The person made an application for a disability allowance, which takes forever of course, as we all know. In the meantime, an application was made for an interim payment - a basic supplementary welfare payment, which takes as long as the application for disability allowance, so nothing happened.

In the meantime, the person concerned has accumulated substantial rent arrears in a council house. The person's electricity has been cut off. Various hardships have been imposed by virtue of the fact that the person was not fit enough to deal with the system. The system was so convoluted and had so many obstacles in it that the situation just got worse.

I complained to the area concerned and I am not happy with the response I got because there was no intention on the part of the person at the other end of the telephone to do anything about it, other than to say that I can take it up with whoever I like but that is the way it is. I am taking it up now. I honestly cannot understand how people with that attitude are on the front line in the delivery of services to the general public. The public are supposed to be treated properly and not to be in any way condemned because of their age, colour, race or any other consideration. The process is in place to be operated fairly and unequivocally and not at the behest of somebody who decides they want to teach a person a lesson. That is one case.

I had another complaint recently from somebody who entered a public office operated by the State, who wanted to use the toilet. The person was told there was no toilet. It so happens that the person was suffering from a particular illness, which caused a serious problem. I reported the issue the day before I had to go to hospital myself because I thought it was urgent.

A public office should be able to treat members of the public with respect for a start. In a public office, there are certain procedures that have to be followed, just as in a filling station, a State office or a private office. Such facilities are supposed to be available but they were not available. I do not know the reason for the facilities not being available. I made a phone call to the individuals concerned and I asked that they make contact with the person, who was deeply distressed. I do not know if anything was said by the person that contributed to the situation but the fact of the matter is that sufficient time has now elapsed for something to happen. What happened? Nothing.

That indicates a certain amount of contempt for public representatives. I do not mind being held in contempt, but there is a price to be paid for it. We should never forget the fact that we are all in the service of the public. Some 99.9% of civil servants and public servants are conscious of that and exercise that in the spirit in which it was intended they would, on a daily basis. Unfortunately, there are one or two exceptions. We must deal with that satisfactorily and quickly. Two or three months is sufficient time to deal with it and I hope a resolution will emerge.

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