asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that a number of citizens removed from houses in Dublin City to improved accommodation on the county side of Ballyfermot housing scheme have had their allowance under the tuberculosis benefits scheme considerably reduced, and that the reduction, together with the increased rents and bus fares, has caused great hardship; and if he will cause an immediate restoration of the full city benefits paid to these people.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reductions in Tuberculosis Benefit.
Mr. Byrne
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the cash allowances payable under the Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Regulations, 1948 and 1949, to persons suffering from tuberculosis. The regulations governing the payment of allowances provide for slightly higher rates of allowance in the case of beneficiaries resident in the four county boroughs in recognition of the fact that the cost of living generally is somewhat higher in those areas than elsewhere in the country. The disparity, however, between the rates of allowances payable in county boroughs and those payable elsewhere does not necessarily involve payment of allowances at lower rates to persons resident immediately outside the county borough owing to the discretion in regard to abatement vested in health authorities. If the Deputy is aware of any specific case in which there appears to be any hardship in the circumstances he describes I shall be glad if he will bring it to my notice and I have no doubt that a satisfactory solution of the difficulty can be found.
Mr. Byrne
Will the Minister make his views known to the public health department of the corporation and to the finance department which bears a share of these payments and gives authority to pay this money? If he makes that recommendation I feel confident that the corporation will give effect to it.
I have already made my views known to the corporation concerning the discretion they have in relation to the abatement of the allowances in respect to national health insurance. I have given a general instruction that they should use their discretion in erring on the generous side rather than in a rigid interpretation of the regulations.
Mr. Byrne
I thank the Minister.