asked the Minister for Health if a circular which issued from his Department to local authorities instructs them to deduct income from all other sources from recipients of infectious diseases maintenance allowances in computing the amount they are to receive; if these instructions apply to incomes received under the Social Welfare Acts; and, if so, if he will cancel this provision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infectious Diseases Allowances.
3.
I can best answer the first part of the Deputy's question by quoting from the relevant circular to health authorities on the subject of abatement of infectious diseases maintenance allowances, which allowances were first provided for in Section 44 of the Health Act, 1947:—
The allowances specified in the Regulations are, as previously stated, maximum weekly amounts and should, in general, be abated by income from other sources, including Social Welfare benefits. Children's Allowances paid under the Social Welfare (Children's Allowances) Act should, however, be disregarded for purposes of abatement. In exceptional cases where the health authority are satisfied that abatement in full of a maintenance allowance by income from other sources would cause undue hardship, the health authority may exercise discretion as to the amount of such abatement.
It will be noted from the foregoing that abatement is not mandatory.
The fundamental purpose of the infectious diseases maintenance allowances is to encourage persons suffering from the specified infectious diseases to undergo treatment by guaranteeing them a measure of financial assistance, should such prove to be necessary, while they are under treatment. It was never intended that they should be an inevitable supplement to other income.
I cannot accept that there is a case for singling out payments under the social welfare code from other forms of income for exceptional treatment in the matter of abatement.