asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the issue of vouchers for footwear for children will be made; and if he intends to amend the scheme so that there may be some relationship between the number of vouchers issued and the footwear available in each district.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Footwear Vouchers.
On 6th August last, each public assistance authority was authorised to issue vouchers corresponding with the number of pairs of official footwear which, it was estimated, would be available by 30th September, 1947. The total number of vouchers thus authorised for issue was 80,179. A further allocation of vouchers to public assistance authorities will be made when production of official footwear is such as to warrant the making of this allocation.
A modification of the size-roll to which official footwear was manufactured last year has been introduced as a result of an examination, undertaken with the co-operation of local authorities, of the needs of voucher-holders; and it is hoped that a better balance between supply of and demand for particular sizes will result. An alteration in the present system of distribution, which was fixed in consultation with all interests concerned, is not considered feasible.