asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will introduce legislation to amend the Poor Law regulations so that relief can be granted to women and children in needy circumstances; if he is aware that the families of the unemployed, many of whom are unemployed for two years and without means of support, cannot get relief of any sort under the existing regulations.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - POOR LAW REGULATIONS.
Under the law as it stands in its application to Dublin, relief outside the Workhouse cannot be afforded to able-bodied unemployed and their dependants.
The Report of the Commission on the Relief of the Sick and Destitute Poor has recently been published, and copies are available.
The general recommendations of the Commission bearing on this matter of Home Assistance are contained in Chapter IV., pages 53 to 61. Special recommendations as regards Dublin County and County Borough are contained in Chapter 10, pages 88-91. Legislation where such appears necessary will be introduced. The report generally and the recommendations made are at present under consideration.
In the meantime, in addition to discharging in the most sympathetic and painstaking way their statutory duties in the matter of relief, the Commissioners of the Dublin Union, acting in conjunction with the City Commissioners, endeavour to secure the maximum amount of employment on the repair and maintenance of roads, on housing, and on kindred public works.
As mentioned by the President yesterday, the question of a Supplementary Relief Grant Vote is, however, under consideration and may be introduced next week.
Mr. BYRNE
Is the Minister aware that it is within the discretion of the Commissioners, or, at least, it was within the discretion of Poor Law Boards, to grant relief to unemployed persons and will he see that they use their discretion the same as the Guardians?
I am aware that under Section 13 of the Act of 1895 it was within the discretion of Boards of Guardians, and is within the discretion of Commissioners, to introduce a special scheme. That scheme was availed of a couple of years ago and it was very disappointing both as to results and to the amount of money necessary to be expended on it. The Commissioners are giving the matter the fullest possible consideration and are dealing with it very sympathetically and painstakingly. In addition to what they can give statutorily in the way of relief, it must be borne in mind that they are giving assistance by way of meals to school children. In the estimates for the coming year in the county borough the amount set aside for that purpose will be £11,000. They also give grants for milk in connection with Child Welfare schemes, and this year the amount allocated for that purpose will be about £4,000.
Mr. BYRNE
Is the Minister aware that in column 18 of the Relieving Officer's Book he is asked to show the number of unemployed persons who are relieved in accordance with the section of the Act which gives the Commissioners power to give relief to the wives and children of unemployed persons? Also, would the Minister say why that section is not put into operation considering the number of unemployed persons who have been refused relief and whose wives and children are practically hungry?
These are the conditions that exist, and the results that have been obtained from putting that section into operation in the last couple of years do not appear to warrant it.
Mr. BYRNE
Then, with the permission of the Chair, I will raise the question on the Motion for the Adjournment when I will give the Minister a few cases which may prove useful to himself and his Department.