§ Mr. LARDNERasked the President of the Local Government Board how many local exchanges were originally set up in Ireland and how many local agents appointed; whether these numbers have in either case been increased and, if so, to what extent; whether any of the local Labour Exchanges have been or are proposed to be abolished and, if so, in what places; whether it is intended to appoint local agents in these places; and whether his Department considers that the local agent system has been a success?
§ Mr. BURNSSix Labour Exchanges were originally established in Ireland, and the number has since been increased to twenty-two. Local agents were appointed in 128 additional places when unemployment insurance first came into force, since when ten new agencies have been opened and two existing agencies closed. It is proposed, in the near future, to substitute local agencies for Labour Exchanges at Ballymena, Portadown, and Lurgan. The system of administering unemployment insurance through local agencies in places where the establishment of an Exchange is not justified has been found to work satisfactorily.