asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money paid by each health board to assist persons with their fares to England or other places abroad during 1988.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Board Assistance.
6.
Payments may be made to assist people with the cost of travel outside the State under the provisions which allow a health board to make a once-off payment for exceptional need to eligible persons who have insufficient means to meet their needs.
The estimated amount of money paid by each health board, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, to assist people with fares to places outside the State in 1988 is as follows:
|
Health Board |
Expenditure |
|
£ |
|
|
Eastern |
11,531 |
|
Midland |
580 |
|
Mid-Western |
1,940 |
|
North-Eastern |
783 |
|
North-Western |
1,727 |
|
South-Eastern |
620 |
|
Southern |
4,750 |
|
Western |
376 |
|
Total |
22,307 |
The main reasons for making payments under this heading in respect of travel abroad are: (a) Persons travelling to take up definite, verified offers of employment; (b) Non-citizens returning to their native country, having either been stranded on holidays or unemployed in Ireland, including persons returning by rail to Northern Ireland; (c) Visits to relatives in prison or hospital; (d) Visits for compassionate purposes, for example, reconciling a marriage and (e) attendance at funerals of close relatives.
Could the Minister indicate to the House the proportion of the payments that have been made to assist people to emigrate from this country? Has he issued a directive from the Department to the health boards concerning this matter, separate from the normal supplementary welfare allowance payments? Could he also indicate the savings arising from these payments to people emigrating by way of the supplementary welfare allowance payments and social welfare payments which would have to be made if these people were not emigrating?
The Deputy is clearly extending the scope of this question.
In relation to the first part of the Deputy's question, the number in that position would appear to be relatively small.
How much is paid per person to assist people to emigrate and is it now official Government policy to assist people to emigrate rather than create employment at home?
The Deputy's question was essentially statistical. He is now entering into the area of policy for which he should put down separate questions.
I understood that if my question was statistical it should be referred to the Department of the Taoiseach. The Minister for Social Welfare is taking the question and I am asking him——
I have no control over that, Deputy.
I certainly have not either. Could I ask again if it is now official Government policy to make——
This is repetition and leading to argument. Let us have No. 7 please.
I did not get a reply to my supplementary. The Minister was on his feet about to give a reply.
The Chair must be obeyed by both sides of the House.