asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that a person (name supplied) who lost a leg and has a seriously disabled hand was refused a disabled persons maintenance allowance by Tipperary North Riding County Council on the grounds that he was not qualified as disabled on medical grounds; and if he will take steps to see that this case, and other similar cases where persons are clearly rendered unfit for normal employment, are not refused an allowance on medical grounds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowance.
4.
Following inquiries which I have made from the health authority concerned, I now understand that it is proposed to pay a disabled persons maintenance allowance in this case with effect from 1st April last.
Is it not a fact that were it not for Deputy Tierney's question, this person would not have received a disablement allowance?
I do not want to deprive Deputy Tierney of any credit which is due to him but I cannot answer that question either in the negative or in the affirmative.
He is a good public representative anyway.
No person recognises that more fully than myself and I am perfectly certain he does not want the help of Deputy O'Higgins to ram that fact home to his own constituents.
Is it not an extraordinary system when a person with one leg and one hand is not regarded as disabled?
It is like the Fine Gael Party, on one leg.
You hold on to the little bit of land you have.
You are all moving to the left now.