asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state whether a letter was issued from his Department in February, 1951, informing Galway County Council that the amount of grant for the school meals (Gaeltacht) scheme is fixed by statute and cannot be increased.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Meals (Gaeltacht) Scheme.
The letter referred to was sent by my Department to the Galway County Manager on the 6th February, 1951.
As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware a total grant of £10,000 a year is provided for in the School Meals (Gaeltacht) Act, 1930. The grant is allocated amongst five county councils in proportion to the school attendances in specified Gaeltacht areas in each county and is limited to 50 per cent. of their expenditure on food for the school meals. I might mention that moneys available by reason of the recoupment of 50 per cent. of the expenditure of individual local authorities being less than the proportion of the grant allocated to them may be used to supplement the payments to other local authorites in cases where 50 per cent. of their expenditure exceeds their allocation. Under this arrangement Galway County Council has received extra payments during the past three years as follows:—
|
1947-48 |
£850 |
17s. |
2d. |
|
1948-49 |
£973 |
8s. |
8d. |
|
1949-50 |
£955 |
15s. |
8d. |
The Minister has given information which I was not seeking. Is he aware that the effect of his letter to the Galway County Council on the 6th February was that they may not increase their provision of money for this service?
I am not aware that there is any such limitation.
Is the Minister aware that item 20 of the agenda for the meeting of Galway County Council on March 31st reads:—
"School meals Gaeltacht scheme; Department of Social Welfare letter dated 6/2/51 states that the amount of grant for this scheme is fixed by statute and cannot be increased"?
That is a fact.
The Minister for Agriculture denied that fact last week.
No, he did not. The Minister for Agriculture was not dealing with that situation at all. £10,000 is the State grant in aid for recoupment purposes for the School Meals (Gaeltacht) Act. That is the limit to which I can spend. Up to that limit money is available. If the Galway County Council want to spend more for the provision of school meals in the Gaeltacht I am not preventing them from doing so.
Is the Galway County Council wrong in stating that they may not spend an increased amount of money on this service?
Nothing I have done in the matter has impeded the Galway County Council from spending more.
Will the Minister explain to the Galway County Council the effect of his letter so that they may restore the service to what it was?
I will be happy to discuss the matter in a cordial atmosphere with the Galway County Council at any time they wish with a view to getting over any difficulties which they think exist.
Will the Minister take notice of the objections I am raising on behalf of Galway County Council? His letter was misunderstood so will he explain the matter fully?
I will look into the matter again in the light of what you now say.