asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the footwear schemes administered by the Limerick Corporation and the Limerick County Council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Footwear Schemes.
The public assistance footwear schemes, administered by the Limerick Corporation and the Limerick County Council as public assistance authorities, provide for the issue of vouchers in respect of specially manufactured footwear for children, up to the age of 16 years, of necessitous parents. The vouchers are exchangeable for footwear at any retail footwear shop.
Persons in receipt of home assistance receive the footwear free of charge. Other persons who are deemed by the public assistance authority to be unable, out of their own resources, to provide footwear for their children are required to pay a contribution in respect of each pair of footwear.
The issue of vouchers and the assessment of contributions are matters within the discretion of the public assistance authority. In assessing contributions regard is had, in general, to the means of the household, the number of eligible children and the price of the footwear.
Subject to a maximum grant, 50 per cent. of the net cost of the footwear is recouped by the Exchequer to each public assistance authority. The schemes operate each year during the months October to March inclusive.