asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that the Dublin Board of Assistance have reduced outdoor relief allowances to persons who are in receipt of increased benefits from the National Health Insurance Society under the provisions of the Social Welfare Schemes (Cash Supplements) Order, 1947; whether it was intended that the granting of these cash supplements should operate to reduce outdoor relief payments; and if not, if he will make it clear to public assistance authorities that it was not intended that cash supplements to national health insurance beneficiaries were to be considered as income which would reduce other assistance allowances to which beneficiaries would be entitled, in the ordinary course.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Outdoor Relief in Dublin.
It was not the intention that the grant of cash supplements under the provisions of the Social Welfare Schemes (Cash Supplements) Order, 1947, should have an adverse effect on the financial position of any recipient of a supplement. The Deputy must be aware that the grant of home assistance is a matter entirely within the discretion of the public assistance authorities. Applications for home assistance are judged solely on the merits of each case, in the light of the general circumstances of the applicant and his household, the number of dependents, etc., and assistance is not provided in accordance with any fixed scale. Section 5 (2) of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, expressly precludes the Minister from directing the giving of public assistance to any individual person.
Has the Minister any knowledge of the fact that, because of the few shillings increase his Department gave to the people on national health benefits, they have lost in some cases an average of 1/3? He gave 3/9 and the board of assistance took off 5/-. Surely the Minister can say that it was not intended that that money, given to meet the increased cost of living, should be taken off the home assistance.
I have not heard any individual case where there was an actual loss.
Then the Minister must not be getting the letters I sent to his Department, directing attention to several victimised people in the city. I ask him to make further inquiries and make another recommendation. I know it was not the Minister's intention that it should happen, but it is being done by another authority.