asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the abolition of the Local Home Help Committees has led to the lack of proper attention being paid to the poor and destitute, and if he will issue an order to the different County Boards of Health, to reappoint these committees at least during the abnormal period of unemployment now prevailing.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ABOLITION OF LOCAL HOME HELP COMMITTEES.
The answer to the question is in the negative. The methods prescribed in the County Boards of Health (Assistance) Order, 1924, are designed to secure most considerate attention to the poor and destitute. Where there is lack of proper attention it can be remedied at once if the Board of Health concerned will interest themselves. Where sub-committees had direct power it was found that wasteful and unnecessary expenditure frequently arose, and deserving cases did not always receive impartial consideration.
Is the Minister aware that under the present regulations a person might have to wait a month before being properly attended to? I refer to poor persons. The Board of Health meets only once a month.
If our rules and regulations were properly attended to there is no reason why that should happen. Supervisors of home assistance are appointed, and they should be able to deal with those cases.
Can they deal with those cases provisionally before the matter is brought before the Board?
They have a certain amount of discretion.