asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether in regard to the minimum contribution to be paid by recipients of boots under the free boot scheme he will make it a function of the local authority to decide what the amount of these minimum contributions is to be.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Footwear Scheme.
60.
The Public Assistance Footwear Scheme applies to various income groups, ranging from those in receipt of public assistance to certain classes of persons in regular employment. Those in receipt of public assistance are not required to make any contribution and the contributions of the others are graded on the basis of income.
The purpose of the instruction which was issued to local authorities advising them of the contributions to be charged was to ensure that the best use would be made of the funds available and that uniform standards would be applied.
I am not satisfied that there are grounds for upsetting the present arrangements.
Is the Minister aware that many applicants under this alleged free footwear scheme are unable to avail of the boots or shoes by reason of the existing charges made by the local authority under the Minister's scheme, that they are charged as much as 15/-, 20/- and 22/- per pair of shoes? Surely that is not a free scheme. When the local authority was operating it, there was a liberalised means test but the Minister's scheme is most unsatisfactory and is causing great hardship.
It may be considered unsatisfactory in some areas but those would be areas where there is not so much need for it as in other areas. The idea of the circular in question was to ensure that uniform standards would be applied throughout the country as a whole.
How free does the Minister consider a scheme to be that requires an approved applicant to pay 22/6 for a pair of shoes?
It is only free to those who are in receipt of public assistance and there are graded payments for other classes.
It is given to more than those in receipt of public assistance.
But it is free only to them.
Is the Minister aware that many applicants have to return these so-called free vouchers without availing of them because of the charges made, from 15/- to 22/6d? If a man with £3 a week who has to support five children has to pay this, is that a free scheme?
It is not. As I say, it is free to those in receipt of public assistance and there are graded payments to be made by the other people who are approved.
Would the Minister hand back the operation of this free boot scheme to the local authority?