asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that a number of persons receiving home assistance in Cork Borough are not entitled to get fuel under the Emergency Fuel Scheme on the grounds that they are living alone; and whether, having regard to the destitute condition of those people and the difficulty they have in obtaining either turf or timber for fuel he will consider bringing such persons within the scheme before Christmas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fuel Scheme in Cork.
The cost of fuel supplied to persons on home assistance under the fuel scheme in Cork County Borough is met by the public assistance authority, which is not precluded from providing fuel for the class mentioned by the Deputy.
In connection with the Minister's reply, I want to say that the people in authority there will not supply turf to the people referred to in the question unless they get an order from the Minister or an order from the City Manager, and the City Manager says that he cannot do it unless he gets an order from the Minister. Surely, it should be possible for the Minister to make such an order. Is he prepared to make such an order?
No, I am not. As I have said, it is a matter for the public assistance authorities there.