asked the Minister for Social Welfare the extent to which home assistance will be cut back during the current year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Home Assistance.
16.
I am not aware of any proposals to cut back home assistance during the current year. On the contrary I would remind the Deputy that under the provisions of the Social Welfare (Supplementary Welfare Allowances) Act, 1975, the home assistance scheme will be replaced shortly by a new scheme of supplementary welfare allowances which will provide for substantially improved payments, as well as other benefits, to all persons whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants.
Can the Minister say when precisely this new scheme will come into operation?
I could not say precisely when. At the moment discussions are going on between the health boards, the Department and the association and union catering for the interests of home assistance officers.
Am I to take it from the general tenor of the Parliamentary Secretary's remarks that the general position of people in receipt of home assistance will be improved?
Quite substantially.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary indicate to me where the necessary finances for this improvement are provided in the Book of Estimates?
The provision for improvement was provided in the budget and, if the Deputy is not aware of it, a Bill dealing with supplementary allowances replacing the present home assistance scheme was passed recently by this House.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it is one thing to pass legislation and, as is the case with this Government, it is a very separate matter to provide money to implement that legislation? Careful examination of the Book of Estimates by me has revealed nowhere in that Book of Estimates the slightest indication that additional finance will be made available for this purpose in the current year. Furthermore, in the Eastern Health Board area proposals are being put forward for a restriction in the level of home assistance and will the Minister make some positive, concrete statement about the situation and what level of home assistance will be provided, and when, and where is the money being provided for this improvement, and stop bluffing?
Despite the attempt at misrepresentation of the true situation by Deputy Haughey in this matter, as well as in other matters, I can assure the Deputy that the money has been provided.
Where? What subhead?
As I have already explained, in the budget provisions and in the Bill passed by this House. Certain necessary discussions and arrangements are now being finalised with the persons concerned and, despite repeated calls by leading Fianna Fáil front benchers, including one last weekend, for a cutback in social welfare services, such a cutback has not taken place and provision has been made to cater for people in this category and that provision will substantially improve their situation.
One final supplementary: is the essence of all that gobbledegook simply that my fears are justified and fewer people this year will be in receipt of lower levels of home assistance? Is that not the reality of the situation?
I am afraid the reality of the situation has escaped the Deputy——
I am afraid it has.
——in his Walter Mitty world. We have had him going through the era of the great Irish patriot, the whizz kid and the business man——
The Parliamentary Secretary is getting very far away from the Book of Estimates. Where is the money?
Where is the money voted for the relief of distress in Northern Ireland? Where is that?
It might be in the bar in Limerick.
Order. I am calling the next question.
I have been on my feet, a Cheann Comhairle, for some time.
I have called the next question. The Chair is in control, Deputy.
It is a pity the Chair would not be in control.
I have called the next question and I must insist on that.
Insist away. It is information we are here for.