asked the Minister for Justice if he will grant an ex-gratia payment to cover the funeral expenses of the families of those who died in Garda or prison custody in the past year; the number of such applications received; the amount of each such application; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Funeral Expenses.
10.
There is provision under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme operated by the health boards for the payment of a contribution towards funeral expenses where a community welfare officer is satisfied that families lack the resources to meet these costs themselves. In view of the existence of this State-funded scheme, I would not propose to grant ex-gratia payments in the circumstances referred to in the question.
Two applications have been received within the past year, both from the families of offenders who died in prison. I do not propose to state the amounts claimed in either case.
I was reluctant to table this question, but now that we know that there are two applications I can say that both of them were applications supported by me, having attended the inquests and having spoken about those unfortunate events in this House. The only way I could get an answer from the Minister was by tabling this question. Would the Minister not agree that it was very cold hearted of the Minister for Justice not to answer the representations made to him over a year ago, for aid to working class families whose members died in prison while serving sentences due to the neglect of the State, and that the least the Minister could have done was to make some gesture towards costs in excess of £1,600 which I submitted to the Minister and which the families cannot afford to discharge? Would the Minister not agree——
Please, Deputy McCartan, you have made your point adequately.
The second aspect of it — and I am sorry, a Cheann Comhairle to be annoying you as much as I seem to be——
It is a very long question, Deputy.
Would the Minister agree that there is a long standing practice in the Department to assist people in these circumstances? Why have things changed so that there is nothing forthcoming from the Department of Justice?
There is a scheme funded by the State to deal with these kinds of expenses and relatives of prisoners are entitled to avail of that scheme. Social welfare workers in the prison would presumably assist in putting relatives in contact with the scheme and with what is available for them under the scheme.
Question No. 11.
The short answer is that nothing is forthcoming. Is that the position from the Department of Justice?
There is a scheme under which——
The Minister is not prepared to help in any way.
Question No. 11.
I seek clarification for the record.
Deputy McCartan is making statements rather than asking questions.
I am merely asking so as to be clear about it——
Please, Deputy McCartan.
——if the position is that nothing will be forthcoming.
I have called Question No. 11.
We should be helped here, a Cheann Comhairle, not obstructed.