asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he has received a request from the Dublin Corporation that a deputation be received by him to hear their views on the appeal of blind persons for an increase in their allowance; if so, if he will state whether he intends to receive the deputation; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Blind Persons' Allowances.
Mr. Byrne
A request was received on the 18th December last. The matter had been fully dealt with in previous correspondence with the corporation, and a reply was issued to the City Manager on the 11th ultimo, requesting that a short statement of the further representations proposed to be made by the deputation be submitted when the matter would be again considered. The request for the reception of a deputation was renewed on the 3rd instant, but was not accompanied by the statement which was requested. The corporation have been notified that until the statement is submitted consideration of the request for a deputation has been deferred.
Mr. Byrne
Will the Minister give any reason as to why he refuses to hear the corporation instead of asking them to submit a statement and will he allow a member of the blind persons' organisation to go to his office and explain their hardships and their difficulties? Can he explain why the corporation will not be allowed to increase the allowances to those persons when they have provided for that in the estimate?
These are three or four different questions.
Mr. Byrne
They are all contained in the one question which was put before. The Minister is deliberately——
If the Deputy desires to ask a supplementary question, he should do so.
Mr. Byrne
——withholding this small increase in the allowances to 1,000 blind persons.