asked the President if he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation that will provide for widows and orphans in needy circumstances.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.
As the Deputy is aware, necessitous widows and orphans are to a considerable extent relieved under the existing Poor Laws. The position of widows and orphans, too, has been considered by the Poor Law Commission, whose report is expected within the next two months.
Mr. BYRNE
Is the Minister aware that a widow with one child is not entitled to poor law relief?
I am aware that there is a certain restriction in a matter like that within the City of Dublin that does not apply to the rest of the country, but if there are any cases that the Deputy would like to bring forward as special cases, I would undertake that they would be fully considered. In view of the fact that the Poor Law Commission has been considering the whole of this matter for perhaps two years, I feel that any question of principle must be left over until the report of that Commission is available, which will be within the next few months.
Mr. BYRNE
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that there are separate regulations for the country outside the City of Dublin, and that these regulations are for the benefit of the people in the country: that under them a widow with one child in the country can get relief, but that if she were in the City of Dublin she could not? If that is so, then I think the Minister should see that there is equality all round, and that a widow with one child in the City of Dublin would get the same treatment as a widow with one child in the country.