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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jun 1927

Vol. 20 No. 2

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - POOR LAW REGULATIONS.

asked the President if he will introduce legislation to amend the Poor Law Regulations so as to enable the Commissioners to consider the claims of deserving cases at present debarred from consideration under the existing regulations.

If the Deputy will supply me with particulars of some typical cases which he considers to be deserving, and which he believes to be debarred from assistance under the Poor Law, I will ask the appropriate local authority to have them investigated. The laws and regulations as to public assistance generally have been under consideration by the Poor Law Commission, whose report will, it is believed, be ready within the next two months.

Mr. BYRNE

Is the Minister aware that the hungry children of the unemployed can get no provision whatever from the Poor Law unless their fathers break down in health? Is it not a case for immediate amendment?

I am not aware that is the position.

Mr. BYRNE

If that is so, will the Minister consider that it is a case for immediate amendment?

If the Deputy would, as I have stated in the reply, give me particulars of some typical cases that he considers to be deserving, the matter will be fully gone into.

Mr. BYRNE

It is a question of principle that I want to get at. There are so many cases that it would be impossible for me to give the Minister particular ones. I am talking generally about the system, and the principle of not giving hungry children food in this city.

This is not the time to talk generally, and perhaps the Minister would recognise that.

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