asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he will permit the Dublin Corporation infant aid scheme to restore the milk allowance for children under five years of age in cases where the family arc receiving food vouchers under unemployment assistance or widows' pension categories in the Department of Industry and Commerce food vouchers' scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Corporation Infant Aid Scheme.
Under the food allowances scheme administered by the Department of Industry and Commerce persons in receipt of unemployment assistance or widows' pensions are entitled to receive in respect of certain dependents a daily allowance of milk. The position in that respect is governed by an Emergency Powers Order. It was accordingly suggested to the corporation in November last in connection with the free milk scheme that in considering applications for milk allowances under that scheme they should have due regard to the milk allowances which children receive under the food allowances scheme of the Department of Industry and Commerce.
Am I to understand from the Parliamentary Secretary that, where the Dublin Corporation infant aid scheme believe that it would be to the advantage of the children to give them milk over and above the milk which is given under the Department of Industry and Commerce food voucher scheme, the Dublin Corporation infant aid scheme is free to give the milk?
No prohibition has been put up so far.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the corporation has been instructed by the Department of Local Government to curtail the supply of milk in cases where the voucher scheme is in operation? The Parliamentary Secretary should not mislead the House.
I think the Deputy is not correctly informed. His statement is not in accordance with the facts. On 5th November last a letter was issued to the corporation by the Department of Local Government on this subject, in the course of which it was stated:—
"In considering applications for milk allowances under the free milk supply scheme on behalf of children under five years of age coming within any of the above-mentioned classes, the sanitary authority should have due regard to the milk allowances which such children are entitled to receive under the food voucher scheme."
Mr. Byrne
That is an instruction to curtail it.
It asks the corporation to have due regard to the fact that those children are obtaining milk under another scheme. Suppose a child were receiving a gallon of milk per day under another scheme, surely the Corporation Infant Aid Scheme would not provide a further gallon?
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, it does not matter what he said; it is what he meant that matters. Are we to understand now that, where the Dublin Corporation infant aid scheme is of opinion that they should, in the interests of the children, give extra milk to a family which is receiving milk under the Department of Industry and Commerce food voucher scheme, so far as the Minister is concerned the Dublin Corporation infant aid scheme is free to give that extra milk?
That is the position.
That is all I want.
Mr. Byrne
That is all I want too, but that is not what they wrote to the corporation. They instructed the corporation to curtail the milk.
I have given an extract from the letter on that subject issued to the corporation. No other letter has issued from my Department to the corporation on the matter.
Mr. Byrne
But that extract means that the Department——
The Deputy should have acquired some sense of order.