asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health what steps, if any, he proposes to take to provide clothing and a meal for children whose parents are destitute owing to unemployment and various other causes, and who are therefore unable to buy sufficient clothing for the children to go to school, and who are threatened with prosecution under the School Attendance Act, 1926, if they remain at home.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CLOTHING AND MEALS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Poor Law Authorities already have power to relieve destitute parents either in money or in kind. Urban district councils are also empowered under Section 3 of the Education (Provision of Meals) (Ireland) Act, 1914, to apply to the Minister for authority to expend money from the rates for the supply of meals to necessitous school children attending National Schools if there are no other adequate funds available for the purpose. A letter reminding urban district councils of their powers in this respect was issued on the 8th October.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that the amount usually paid in home help is about 8s. for a man, his wife and four children?
Would the Minister consider the advisability of having that Act extended to the rural areas and of asking the county councils to do what they have already asked the urban councils to do, because it is the children in rural areas who are suffering at the moment?
Is the Minister aware that there are no district councils at the present time?
I said county councils.