asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will direct boards of assistance throughout the country to increase rates of outdoor relief payable to those suffering economic want, so as to enable them to cope, in some degree, with the increased cost of living.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rates of Outdoor Relief.
Public assistance authorities are obliged by the Public Assistance Act, 1939, to give such assistance as appears to them to be necessary or proper to meet the needs of each particular case. The grant of home assistance is a matter entirely within the discretion of the public assistance authorities and I am not aware that they have failed to meet their obligations in the matter.
If the Deputy can give me particulars of any cases in which inadequate home assistance is being paid I will have the matter brought to the notice of the authority concerned. Section 5 (2) of the Act of 1939 precludes me, however, from directing the giving of home assistance to any individual person.