asked the Minister for Health if he will state whether the £4 maternity grant payable under the Health Act, 1953, to the lower income groups is now obtainable; and, if so, to whom the beneficiaries should apply; and, further, whether it is the function of the local authority to meet the cost or if it is proposed to discharge such cost from the Central Fund.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maternity Grant.
I have consulted health authorities with a view to having Section 23 of the Health Act, 1953, brought into operation on 1st January next. I am awaiting their views.
The arrangements for receiving applications will be a matter for the health authority concerned.
Payments under the section will be a recognised health service for the purposes of the Health Services (Financial Provisions) Act, 1947.
That means 50 per cent. subject to the overriding limit.
50 per cent. will be recouped.
Subject to the overriding limit.
They all get it.
Would the Minister say whether he has to await replies from all the local authorities before bringing this part of the Act into operation or may it be brought in by different local authorities at different times?
I think it would not be necessary to wait for a reply from all of them. If a substantial number are in favour of it, they can go ahead.
Will this be mandatory on local authorities? They must adopt the provisions of the scheme?
It is not mandatory.
But they must first adopt the scheme?
Is the Minister right about that because yesterday at the Kildare County Council a motion was brought forward on a purely money basis without any question of the adoption of the scheme? I cannot see now they would vote the money if this scheme were not adopted.
They agree or they do not agree—that is the point.
That is not a scheme.
Can we get the thing clear? Suppose a local authority positively adopts the scheme first and then agrees to the payment of maternity benefit on the basis suggested by the Minister——
I cannot say what the technical form will be but the local authority can say: "We are not adopting the scheme." The fact that a local authority votes the necessary money means that they are going on with it.
If they say they are not adopting the scheme does it mean that the maternity benefit will not be available?
It would not be available for that particular county.