asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will investigate the condition of itinerant families in the Dublin area since in the present plight lack of proper means seems to force the children of these families to beg on the city streets.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Itinerant Families.
50.
The answer is "no". Itinerant families who are in need have exactly the same rights as other families to the social welfare services administered by my Department. Like other families they receive children's allowances and, where qualified, other benefits such as old age and widows pensions and unemployment assistance. All these payments, including increases for children, were raised substantially this year so that the position of itinerant and other families relying on social welfare is now very much improved.
I might add that detailed instructions to local offices and branches of my Department are designed to eliminate any difficulties which may arise in the way of payment of social welfare allowances to itinerants.