asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether distributors of subsidised footwear for children have been advised that it is permissible for them to sell this footwear without contribution from local authorities to persons desirous of paying full price for it; and, if so, whether he is aware that this procedure cuts across the whole basis of price fixation for footwear settled officially with the boot and shoe trade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Children's Subsidised Footwear.
Distributors of footwear under the Public Assistance Footwear Scheme have been advised by advertisement in the public Press and otherwise that it is not permissible for them to exchange such footwear otherwise than in return for vouchers issued by a public assistance authority. Vouchers authorising the holder to obtain footwear may be in one of the three following forms: (1) at the cost of the public assistance authority; (2) at less than the controlled price, the difference being paid by the public assistance authority, and (3) at the full controlled price. Vouchers in the terms of from (1) may be issued in respect of the children of persons in receipt of home assistance, where the circumstances of the recipients would not warrant a contribution towards the cost being sought from them. It is the duty of the public assistance authority to provide first for the most necessitous cases and claims for vouchers in the terms of form (1) would accordingly receive priority over those in the terms of form (2). No vouchers in the terms of form (3) would be issued until the requirements of the classes covered by forms (1) and (2) had been met. The scheme is limited to the needs of persons (including persons permitted to purchase at the full controlled rate) who are eligible for public assistance by reason of the fact that they are unable to provide the full cost of footwear for their dependent children at current shop prices. A local authority would, therefore, be exceeding its functions if it were to issue vouchers to any person who was able and willing to pay the full price but who had not been deemed eligible for the assistance involved in the supply of the footwear at the controlled rate.
Are we to take it that, in the event of some merchants selling these boots to persons not in a position to produce a voucher from the local authority, they will be called upon to account for so doing?
Certainly.