asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he will consider the introduction of a scheme for the provision of boots or shoes to children of necessitous parents, and on a basis similar to that of the food voucher scheme, in view of the grave lack of proper footwear among such poor children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision of Children's Boots
The possibility of operating a scheme of the kind suggested in the question has been under examination, but investigations have not been concluded. The examination so far has shown that the difficulties to be overcome in framing such a scheme—including problems relating to supply, the prevention of abuses, and methods of distribution, etc.—are so great that a scheme on a reasonable basis may not be practicable, and will in any event require a great deal of prior organisation. I may point out that in the meantime public assistance authorities already possess power to afford assistance in kind, including footwear, in individual cases where they consider such assistance is warranted.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that, quite recently, the board of assistance was asked to provide a pair of shoes for a necessitous child and replied that they had none available and did not even offer the price of a pair?
May I take it that this problem is still receiving attention, as it is of great urgency? In respect of the statement of the powers of the local authorities to supply footwear, is the Minister aware that in certain cases, county managers are actually raising charitable funds to enable children to get footwear, as the managers cannot supply them?
I think it would be better to refer the Deputy to my statement in the debate on the Estimate, for the answer to that question.