asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of the last year for which figures are available the number of free or subsidised mid-day meals provided in Dublin city and county with the aid of public funds, to impoverished persons including expectant mothers and children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Free Meals Scheme.
5.
Mr. Ryan
Interpreting the question comprehensively, but excluding the many persons who are maintained at the cost, wholly or partly, of public funds in residential hospitals, homes, etc. and who are provided with full meals, the number of free or subsidised mid-day meals provided in a recent year in Dublin city and county, with assistance from public funds, is of the order of nearly 10.2 millions. Without the application of a means test, it would not be possible to state how many of the recipients of these meals are impoverished in the true sense of the word.
The foregoing takes no account of the supply, under the Mother and Child Scheme, of milk to expectant and nursing mothers and to necessitous children, to the extent of over 1.6 million pints of liquid milk and three thousand pounds of milk powder.