asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that where a public assistance authority grants allowances to dependents of tuberculosis patients undergoing treatment in sanatoria the cost of such allowances is borne wholly by the local authority; and, if so, if he is prepared to make grants out of the Exchequer to local authorities who purpose to operate scales of allowances in such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Allowances to Dependents of Tuberculosis Patients.
It is the duty of public assistance authorities to grant assistance to necessitous dependents of tuberculosis patients undergoing treatment in sanatoria. The payments made by public assistance authorities by way of such assistance would not rank for recoupment from the National Tuberculosis Grant.
Might I remind the Parliamentary Secretary that a question in similar terms was on the Order Paper here a fortnight ago and I am still at a loss to get the information I desire on both questions as to whether the Minister is prepared, in effect, to give a grant to local authorities who want to operate a scheme of allowances for the dependents of patients undergoing treatment in sanatoria?
Such a scheme would not rank for recoupment.
Are we to infer from that that it is the duty of the local authorities to provide one if they so desire?
That is so.