asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the number of blind persons under 50 years of age in the area of each board of health, the nature of the provision (if any) made by the board for the welfare of blind persons under Section 2 of the Blind Persons Act, 1920; the amount of the expenditure by each board under that section, and the number of blind persons in respect of whom the expenditure is made; whether he would urge the boards of health to make better provision to discharge the statutory duty imposed upon them in this matter; or, if not, whether he would be prepared to introduce proposals for legislation transferring this duty from the boards of health to the central administration.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Persons Act.
The answer to this question is in the form of a long tabular statement which will be circulated to the Deputy and included in the Official Report. Following is the answer:
As the census of 1926 did not take cognisance of disabilities such as blindness statistics are not available showing the number of blind persons under 50 years of age in the area of each board of health.
Approved schemes for the welfare of the blind have been adopted by the boards of health of the following areas:—
Counties—Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laoighis, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary N.R., Tipperary S.R., Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow.
Schemes in all the above-mentioned areas, except Galway County, provide for:—
(1) the education or industrial training of suitable blind persons between the ages of 5 and 30 years in institutions approved by the Minister;
(2) the employment in workshops for the blind of blind persons suitable for such employment, their maintenance in a hostel and the augmentation of their wages;
(3) the maintenance in homes of blind persons who, owing to age or infirmity, are incapable of work;
(4) the granting of assistance to unemployable and necessitous blind persons living in their own homes or in lodgings.
In the case of Galway County the scheme does not make provision under the latter heading. The Board of Health have, however, been asked to extend their arrangements.
The adoption of a comprehensive scheme is being considered by the Cork County Board of Public Health.
The following is a statement of expenditure on blind welfare schemes from returns furnished by boards of health in respect of year ended 31st March, 1929, and shows the numbers of blind persons in respect of whom expenditure was incurred:—
|
Counties. |
Expenditure. |
No. of Blind Persons. |
|
£ |
||
|
Carlow |
70 |
10 |
|
Cavan |
165 |
12 |
|
Clare |
37 |
5 |
|
Donegal |
35 |
4 |
|
Galway |
170 |
11 |
|
Kerry |
462 |
53 |
|
Kildare |
58 |
7 |
|
Kilkenny |
45 |
4 |
|
Laoighis |
392 |
43 |
|
Leitrim |
120 |
4 |
|
Limerick |
126 |
10 |
|
Longford |
40 |
3 |
|
Louth |
97 |
6 |
|
Offaly |
16 |
16 |
|
Roscommon |
103 |
6 |
|
Tipperary N.R. |
243 |
10 |
|
Tipperary S.R. |
1,494 |
116 |
|
Waterford |
113 |
7 |
|
Westmeath |
107 |
6 |
|
Wexford |
5 |
7 |
|
Wicklow |
36 |
3 |
Returns have not been received in respect of Mayo, Meath, Monaghan and Sligo Counties. In the two last-mentioned areas the schemes were not adopted until the latter end of the year. In Mayo County a scheme has not been put into operation.
I am satisfied generally with the response by the boards of health to efforts to secure the discharge of the statutory duty imposed upon them for promoting the welfare of the blind. In one or two instances boards of health have shown reluctance in putting into operation schemes adopted by them, but they are being pressed to carry out their duty.