asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason why a charge of 18/- per pair of boots for school going children, instead of a charge of 4/- per pair, is now made by the Laois County Council in respect of poor persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois Schoolchildren: Footwear Charges.
21.
The Deputy appears to be under a misapprehension in this matter. The contribution of 18/- referred to is the amount charged in respect of persons in regular employment who are normally excluded from the scheme but are admitted in exceptional circumstances such as low wages, illness or other misfortune or where there are more than six eligible children. It is clear, therefore, that the charge referred to does not relate to poor persons. In fact, poor persons who are in need of assistance under the Scheme and are in receipt of home assistance are eligible for footwear free of charge.
The purpose of the instruction which issued to the public assistance authorities, setting out the minimum contributions to be charged, was to ensure that the best use would be made of the available funds for the benefit of the poorer classes of beneficiary.