asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the difficulties experienced by some medical card holders in obtaining certificates from medical officers to verify children's illness to courts on the hearing of prosecutions in respect of failure to comply with the School Attendance Act; and if he will have steps taken to ensure that parents with small means are not embarrassed in this way.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Attendance Act Prosecutions.
50.
There is no information in my Department that would suggest that a problem exists in relation to the supply of the certificates mentioned in the Deputy's question.
Is the Minister aware that this matter was raised recently with Dublin Corporation? If the Minister is given information which shows that this problem does, indeed, arise will he use his good offices to ensure that people in the lower income group are not deprived of the opportunity of obtaining certificates from medical officers to verify children's illness to courts on the hearing of prosecutions in respect of failure to comply with the School Attendance Act?
I should be very glad to let the Deputy have that assurance rather than that he should have to put down a Parliamentary Question in the matter.
Does the Minister resent Members of the House asking Parliamentary Questions?
Not at all.
Does the Minister take umbrage that Members of this House exercise their right to ask a Dáil question on public policy?
Devil a bit. It is just that, in a matter of a simple nature, I should be pleased to let the Deputy have the information without putting him to the trouble of putting down a Parliamentary Question about it.