I wish to announce to An Dáil the personnel of the "Commission on the Relief of the Destitute Sick and Poor, including the Insane Poor":—
Alderman R. Corish, T.D.
Right Rev. Monsignor Dunne, P.P., V.G.
Sir Joseph Glynn.
Dr. T. Hennessy, T.D.
Senator Sir John Keane.
Rev. M.E. Murphy, C.C.
Major J. Myles, T.D.
C.H. O'Conor, Esq.
Senator Mrs. Wyse-Power.
"An Seabhac" (P. Sugrue, Commissioner for Leitrim County, etc.).
Mr. C.H. O'Conor will act as Chairman of the Commission.
Those mentioned have very kindly consented to place their services at the disposal of the Commission, and have been nominated because of their special knowledge of, and association with, many of the problems within the terms of reference of the Commission.
The terms of reference are as follows:—
With the object of devising permanent legislation for the effective and economical relief of the sick and destitute poor, to inquire into the laws and administration relating thereto, and particularly as regards the following matters:—
1. To inquire into the adequacy and suitability of schemes which have been formulated under the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act and make recommendations.
2. To advise as to whether the existing law and regulations as regards Home Assistance require alternation towards securing that due provision is made for the sick and destitute poor in their own homes without avoidable wasteful expenditure on healthy persons who are incorrigibly idle.
3. To examine the law and administration affecting the relief of the following destitute classes and to make recommendations:—
(a) Widows and their children.
(b) Children without parents.
(c) Unmarried mothers and their children.
(d) Deserted children.
4. To inquire into the existing provision in public institutions for the care and treatment of mentally defective persons, and to advise as to whether more efficient methods can be introduced, especially as regards the care and training of mentally defective children, due regard being had to the expense involved.
5. As regards cost of relief of the destitute poor generally to inquire as to whether any change in law is desirable towards securing more equitable chargeability on local rates for persons who, having been in fact normally resident in one poor relief district, have become a charge upon the rates of another district.