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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Apr 1964

Vol. 208 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infectious Diseases Maintenance Allowances.

3.

asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that persons in receipt of infectious diseases maintenance allowances have had their allowances reduced by the amount of recent social welfare payment increases received by them, thus nullifying the effect of the social welfare increase; and if he will take steps to ensure that such reductions are not made.

As I have already explained in reply to a Parliamentary Question on 29th January last, the increases in the rates payable under the Social Welfare Acts, to which the Deputy refers, were part and parcel of the general increase, provided for in the last Budget, in social welfare pensions, allowances and benefits, and in maintenance allowances under the Health Acts, including the infectious diseases maintenance allowances; but whereas the benefits under the Social Welfare Acts were not increased until January last, the infectious diseases allowances, including the related rent allowances, had been increased over two months previously, from 1st November. Thus, if the Deputy's suggestion in the latter part of the question were adopted, persons in receipt simultaneously of allowances under the maintenance regulations and the social welfare code would get the benefit on the double of the Budget increases.

I might add that health authorities, wherever they consider that undue hardship would result from abatement of maintenance allowances by the full amount of income from any other sources, including social welfare benefits, may dispense with such abatement in whole or in part.

Question No. 4 postponed.

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