asked the Minister for Health whether any consideration has been given to increasing the amount paid by his Department through the Dublin Health Authority to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; and whether he is aware of any request that the amount be increased.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Grant to SPCC.
96.
In recent years I have authorised increases in the grant paid by the Dublin Health Authority to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The grant was increased to £200 per annum for the financial years ending on 31st March, 1966 and 1967. I later approved an increase to £500 for the year ended 31st March, 1968, and subsequent financial years.
I have not agreed, however, to a recent proposal of the Health Authority to further increase the grant to £1,000 for the current year.
The Deputy will be aware that other health authorities also contribute towards the costs of the Society and that a substantial grant is paid by the Minister for Finance out of Central Funds towards their running costs.
Will the Minister give explicitly the reason why he refused sanction to Dublin Corporation to pay the increase? It is coming out of the rates. It is no burden on the Department. These people are sorely in need of funds.
All I should like to say is that, as I pointed out in the last paragraph of my reply, we are not the sole source of funds of this society, and the Deputy may rest assured that they will be well treated in the matter of public funds.
The reason I raise this matter is because, being associated with this society, I know they are in dire need of funds in the various localities throughout the country. The Minister referred to a grant given by the Minister for Finance. This amounts to £5,000, as far as I can recall. It was generously given by Dr. Ryan, when he was Minister for Finance. That was about five or six years ago. However, that is not a matter for the Minister for Health, but nevertheless I urge him to approve of anything the local authority want to give voluntarily to this organisation.
I can only repeat my assurance to the Deputy that the society will be well treated. I should like to add that, if I got certain proposals from local authorities, I would approve of them. I do not approve of the Dublin one for certain reasons.
Will the Minister state the reasons?
I should prefer not to at the moment. They will emerge later.