asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the inadequacy of the present payments made to tuberculosis cases; and, if so, if he will sanction a reasonable increase in the amounts now paid to meet the increasing cost of necessary food supplies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tuberculosis Allowances.
Mr. Byrne
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the cash allowances payable under the Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Regulations, 1948 and 1949, to persons while they are undergoing treatment for tuberculosis.
The main purpose of these cash allowances is to induce persons in necessitous circumstances who are suffering from certain infectious diseases to undergo early and suitable treatment for the disease. I am satisfied that, generally speaking, this object is being achieved and I do not at present propose to amend the regulations to provide for an increase in the rates of allowance, the expenditure on which has increased from £282,000 in the year 1948-49 to an estimated amount of £524,000 in the current year.
The Deputy, of course, is aware that health authorities may, at their discretion, grant extra nourishment under their domiciliary welfare scheme to tuberculosis patients.
Would the Minister ensure that some of these sacrosanct managers down the country comply with his wishes and cease to abate national health insurance in the case of small wage earners?
That is a separate question.
Does not the Minister consider that where the cost of living index shows a substantial rise there is a sound case for increasing the allowance?
There is already an opportunity for the county manager to give extra benefits in the way of nourishment. When the new social benefits come into operation on 1st July next the managers can, if they so wish, increase these benefits as well.
Are the scales of allowances and the national health scales uniform?
They are uniform on the maximum, but the county managers do not always come up to the maximum.
Would the Minister make it mandatory on the county managers to comply with his wishes, or would he still leave it optional with them to abate the national health insurance from low wage earners in cases where they can do so?
We believe in leaving a certain amount of discretion to the local authorities.
Would the Minister consider giving an indication to the county managers that, in his view, the increased benefits, by way of additional food, should be made available, having regard to the recent increase in the cost of living?
Yes, we will probably do that.