asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he has any proposals under consideration for the amelioration of hardships and ill-health resulting from the inability of any class of persons to purchase adequate clothing and footwear for children.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Children's Clothing and Footwear.
Mr. A. Byrne
In a circular letter issued by my Department on 6th April, 1944, local authorities were recommended to review the footwear needs of children of home assistance recipients with a view to the distribution of footwear by way of assistance in kind in cases likely to be exposed to hardship for want of good boots next winter.
A proposed scheme for the distribution of footwear to children of persons of other low-income classes is at present under consideration in conjunction with the other Departments of State concerned. In this connection I would draw the attention of the Deputy to the reference made by the Minister for Finance to this scheme in his Budget statement.
No special measures have been recommended to local authorities as regards the provision of clothing which would normally be covered by the assistance granted to necessitous cases in cash or in kind.
Mr. A. Byrne
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his Minister stated that the local authority, the board of assistance, has power, in necessitous cases, to give clothing and boots to bootless children in order that they can go to school? Will the Minister see that the board of assistance carries out his recommendations in the matter? Is he aware that they are not doing it and that they are just returning applications and telling the people that they have no boots, and that as a result, the children are bootless and becoming victims of tuberculosis?
Mr. Larkin
And going to jail.