asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that applicants for benefits under the tuberculosis scheme in Cork Borough are subjected to a rigorous means test; and, if so, whether he will direct the local health authority to deal more liberally with such applicants with a view to helping them to recovery.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Tuberculosis Scheme.
In dealing with applications for benefit under the scheme of maintenance allowances in respect of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, health authorities are required to have regard to other income of applicants in deciding the allowances payable. In view of the fact that this scheme of allowances is primarily designed to alleviate distress and suffering I am anxious that local authorities should administer it in a generous and sympathetic spirit. I am sure that in general this is being done but if the Deputy will submit to me particulars of any cases which he considers have been inequitably dealt with I shall have them fully investigated.
Would the Minister consider a bus conductor with four in family who is afflicted with tuberculosis or a builder's labourer who has also four in family and is similarly afflicted, proper cases to receive benefits under this scheme?
As I have said, I obviously could not come to a decision on statements made by the Deputy here but if the Deputy will give me particulars I shall consider the case as an appeal which the applicant is allowed to make under the scheme. If there is a case for making an allowance, I shall be very glad to give a direction that such an allowance should be made.
There are a number of cases of that kind cropping up in my constituency also.
I should just like to issue the same invitation to the Deputy, that if there are such cases, he can recommend the applicants to send forward their applications to me as appeals; and I shall deal with them in my capacity as Minister to whom appeals are to be addresesd, if applicants think that they do not get satisfaction from the manager.
Would the Minister not consider giving a direction to the local authorities to deal more liberally with such applicants?
This whole question of allowances is an extraordinarily difficult one. We were giving it a trial in the first instance to find out the flaws, the advantages or disadvantages of the scheme. I should be very grateful if Deputies, who have any criticisms to make, would submit them to me because, as it happens, we are in process of reconsidering these allowances with a view to alleviating any hardship that may be caused in certain instances. We have got to see what the flaws or the weaknesses of the scheme are and if we can do anything to improve it we shall do so.
The Minister has not yet answered my question—will he give a direction to local authorities to deal more liberally with such cases?
I have answered the Deputy's question inasmuch as I have repeated that I am anxious that the local authorities should administer the scheme in a generous and sympathetic spirit. I sincerely hope that the local authority will do that without any formal direction from me.
Arising out of the Minister's invitation to send criticisms to him, would he be prepared to consider the criticisms which he himself made to this scheme prior to the 4th February last?
The Deputy may be quite certain that I shall take these criticisms into consideration just as I would be prepared to consider any criticisms which the Deputy might forward me.
Are we to judge from that, that the Minister has come to the conclusion that the criticisms which he uttered from public platforms were without foundation?
The Deputy's Party gave us so little time as it was so close to the elections——
Ask Dr. Galvin about that. Ask the Minister's friend.
That is another question.