asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that a proposal to board out a number of children was submitted by the West Cork Board of Assistance some time ago to the Department, and whether, in the interests of the children concerned, sanction will be given to the proposal without further delay.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PROPOSED BOARDING-OUT OF CHILDREN.
Consent to boarding-out is only required where the children to be boarded-out are not orphan or deserted or where it is proposed to board out in a town or village. In the absence of particulars from the Deputy it would be difficult to say whether sanction is required for the cases which he has in mind.
Mr. MURPHY
Might I ask the Minister whether it would not be possible for the Department to have addressed the inquiry that he has just mentioned to the Board any time within the last six months and so help to have this matter finished up?
I do not understand the Deputy.
Mr. MURPHY
The Minister points out that under certain circumstances sanction is not necessary. There appears to be a doubt in the mind of the Department as to whether sanction is necessary in this case. Would it not be a proper thing on the part of the Department to have addressed an inquiry of that kind to the Board during the last six months to elucidate the fact whether sanction by the Department was necessary or not?
I am not in a position to say whether there are definite requests from the West Cork Board of Assistance to the Department lying in the office at the present moment. If there are, I will take steps to see that these matters are dealt with.
Mr. MURPHY
An inspector from the Department visited the district and reported on these cases three months ago.