asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that (a) the Cork County Manager deducted 10/-national health disablement benefit from the tuberculosis allowance payable to a person in Cobh; (b) up to recently he deducted the full 15/- from this man, and (c) that the man, his wife and three children were existing on 39/- weekly for a long period and that for a short time they enjoyed 44/-weekly; and, if so, if he has satisfied himself that the Cork County Manager is carrying out his intention concerning the assessment of means for small wage earners and, further, if he will allow this person, who rendered service to the Republic of Ireland during the emergency, the 10/- at present deducted and if he will state whether at any time this man appealed to him to have the full amount of national health disablement benefit allowed to him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Health Disablement Benefit.
The answer to (a) and (b) of the Deputy's question is "Yes".
Regarding (c), I have ascertained from the health authority that the person referred to was in receipt of an allowance of £1 19s. per week under the Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Regulations, 1948 and 1949, from the 1st May, 1951, which represented an abatement of the maximum allowance by 15/- per week national health disablement benefit. The abatement was later reduced to 10/- per week, i.e. the allowance was increased to £2 4s. per week, which was paid as from 2nd February, 1952, to 19th March, 1952, when it was further increased to £3 4s. per week, consequent on the transfer of the recipient from the sanatorium to his home for domiciliary treatment.
The person concerned appealed on the 26th February, 1951, to have the maximum allowance paid to him in addition to national health insurance benefit. The health authority's report on the matter showed that, subsequent to the date of the appeal, he had entered a sanatorium, where he had free treatment, and was in receipt of the maximum allowance, less national health insurance benefit. As the patient has now been discharged from the sanatorium and in view of the other circumstances of the case, I propose to ask the local authority to reconsider the amount of the allowance to be paid to him.
The maintenance allowances scheme is administered by the health authority as part of its infectious diseases service, and it is primarily a matter for that authority to determine whether or not the allowance payable in any case is adequate. I am satisfied that the regulations governing the allowances scheme are, in general, being properly administered in County Cork.
I found it difficult to hear part of the reply. The Minister is admitting that the person concerned was in receipt of 39/- per week for a time. I ask him: does he think that is a fair allowance to give to a man who has a wife and three children living at home whilst he is in a sanatorium—a man who rendered service during the emergency as a petty officer in our Navy? Would the Minister get in touch with the county manager for Cork, who seems to be very solicitous about charges on the central fund, as well as local funds, and see that justice, not charity—we do not ask for that—will be given to the person concerned?
The Deputy, of course, must not ignore that, while he was in receipt of 39/- per week, he was also in receipt of national health insurance benefit.
He did not get it.
He got part of it.
Excuse me. He abated the whole lot until I appealed and got him 5/-.
No, we never abated it.
I say he did and only quite recently he gave him another increase. I certainly say he did. Would the Minister contradict that?
I am glad the Deputy gives himself credit for getting something for this man. It is all to the good that the Deputy should have that opinion of himself.
The Deputy, when he was approached by this man in the sanatorium at Doneraile, immediately took steps to see that justice was given to him. The Minister has not contradicted that he abated the full amount.