asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of the hardships caused to tuberculosis sufferers by reason of the increased cost of living and the inadequacy of the allowances payable under the Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Regulations to meet the increased cost of living, and whether he is prepared to increase these allowances to meet the increased prices.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tuberculosis Allowances.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question on 19th July last.
In that reply, I dealt with the background to the whole question of the scope and purposes of these allowances and with the means by which health authorities could deal specially with exceptional cases.
Since the date of that reply, I have specially considered whether an upward revision of the rates is necessary and I am of opinion that, having regard to the relatively generous level at which they were fixed in January, 1948, and to the discretion which health authorities have in dealing with special cases, no revision is necessary at present.
Would the Minister reconsider that question? I am sure the Minister will appreciate how prices have gone up since 1948 and that the purpose of these grants is to enable tuberculosis sufferers to receive an adequate allowance which would enable them to obtain more nourishment and generally maintain a certain standard of living.
Arising out of that question, I would like to point out to the Minister that there have been complaints that local authorities have altered the method of allocating the grant and that when an old age pensioner reaches the age of 70 he is knocked off the allowance and put on the old age pension, meaning a reduction from £3 or £4 to £1, which is hardly adequate in the case of tuberculosis.
With regard to Deputy MacBride's question, these allowances are for dependents. Allowances are given also for the affected person.
My question is in regard to the affected person.
With regard to Deputy ffrench-O'Carroll's point, if the person was a dependent and reached the age of 70 that would not deprive him from getting something extra to make up the total amount.
Is the Minister aware that if a man goes into hospital, having been given the allowance of £2 14s.— after the value of the farm is deducted —on going into the hospital, £1 a week is taken off and his wife and family are left with 34/-? Was that ever intended?
If the person is at home, naturally he gets a bigger allowance for himself and his wife than when he goes to hospital, that is to say, his wife then gets less.
I would like to point out this important position. Hitherto, when a person reached 70 he was allowed to continue enjoying the full benefits of the tuberculosis allowance. Recently, in several cases, the Dublin Corporation have knocked him off the tuberculosis allowance and put him on the old age pension, which means that he gets £1 instead of £2 or £3.
That is wrong. He should get the same total amount.
Will the Minister indicate to the authority that that should be done?
May I inquire from the Minister if he thinks it equitable, in the case of a small farm, when the small farmer is removed from the farm to the sanatorium—as, of course, it is right that he should be as soon as it comes to the knowledge of those concerned—or does he think it a true reflection in such circumstances to say that the allowance ought to be reduced to £1 a week consequent on his removal from the farm? From the family point of view, surely the removal of the head of a family, who has some directive, co-ordinating control so long as he is in the place, has the result of leaving the position that a quasi widow woman with young children is trying to run the farm with the husband gone. Would not the Minister agree with me that in the circumstances of that small farmer, instead of lightening the family commitment, his removal to hospital rather adds to it? It is true that she has not got to provide the bit to eat that he ate in the house, but all his management capacity, his guidance and direction, is of necessity removed and the woman of the house has to get a man in to do the heavy work about the place.