asked the Minister for Health if he will give favourable consideration to the allocation of a grant-in-aid to those recognised charitable and voluntary institutions which are striving with limited resources to aid the needy poor of Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants for Charitable Institutions.
33.
I am not clear as to the type of grants-in-aid the Deputy has in mind, or whether I have any statutory powers in regard to them. In general, the provision of assistance for the needy poor is not the responsibility of my Department except in so far as such needs are related to the health services provided under the Health Acts. Apart from grants from the Department's Vote to voluntary agencies providing services in connection with the welfare of mothers and children, I have power to sanction proposals from health authorities to give grants to bodies providing services similar or ancillary to a service which a health authority may provide and, in fact, the Dublin Health Authority, with my consent, pays grants to a number of such bodies. If the Deputy will be good enough to let me know the type of grant he has in mind and the purpose for which it is required, I shall have the matter examined.