asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that boards of assistance operating in the City and County of Dublin take into consideration payment from national health insurance in deciding on assistance; and if he will instruct that these boards act in accordance with the circular issued some years ago to the effect that the first 7/6 of national health insurance is not to be taken into account in deciding the amount of assistance to be granted to applicants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Calculation of Means.
The commissioners administering the Dublin Board of Assistance and the Balrothery and Rathdown Boards of Assistance are fully aware of the circular to which the Deputy refers and of the statutory provisions on which it is based, and I have no grounds for assuming that they do not advert to the terms of that circular when granting home assistance to any person qualified therefor.
The Deputy must be aware, however, that applications for home assistance are judged solely on the merits of each case, with special consideration as to the general circumstances of the applicant and his household and the number of dependents. Recipients of home assistance are not entitled to relief on any fixed scale and it is provided by Section 5 (2) of the Public Assistance Act, 1939, that the Minister is not empowered to direct the giving of public assistance to any individual person.