asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that it is now extremely difficult to understand the Public Assistance Act, 1939, owing to the operation of the County Management Acts and the Health Act, 1953; if he will arrange to have this Act reprinted, taking account of amendments to date; and if he will state the pre-1922 statutes relating to public assistance, etc., not yet repealed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Assistance Act, 1939.
31.
The Public Assistance Act, 1939, is operative now only in relation to home assistance and the burial of persons who have been in receipt of home assistance or who have no relatives to bury them or whose bodies have been washed ashore. The sections relating directly to these matters are Sections 18, 19, 20, and Sections 23 to 30.
I do not think that the expenditure involved in reprinting the Act in the form suggested by the Deputy would be justified. There are no pre-1922 statutes relating to the granting of public assistance not yet repealed.
The Minister might make it known generally that the Public Assistance Act has, in fact, ceased to operate.
Except those sections that I have quoted.
Is the information the Minister has just given to the House contained in any subsequent Act?
No, but the effect of the changes that have been made is that the Public Assistance Act is now operative only in the respects quoted.
Would the Minister not think it would be a good idea to make arrangements to have that made statutory rather than just give an opinion across the floor of this House?
The Minister has no opinion.