asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the increased living costs since the monetary allowances payable under the infectious diseases regulations were last reviewed, he will review the amounts at present payable in order to bring these allowances to a level more in keeping with the present requirements of these patients.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infectious Diseases Payments.
As the Deputy is aware, the main purpose of the cash allowances payable under the Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Regulations, 1948 and 1949, to persons suffering from certain infectious diseases is to induce persons in necessitous circumstances to undergo early and suitable treatment for the disease by relieving them of worry as to the maintenance of themselves and their dependents. I am satisfied that, generally speaking, this object is being achieved and in the circumstances I do not at present propose to amend the regulations to provide for an increase in the rates of allowance, the expenditure on which has increased from £284,000 in the year 1948-49 to an estimated amount of £488,000 in the current year.
The Deputy is, I am sure, also aware that health authorities have discretion to deal sympathetically with cases of hardship by waiving abatement of allowances in respect of other income of patients and, in the case of tuberculosis patients, by granting extra nourishment under the domiciliary welfare scheme.
Would the Minister not agree that, in view of the increased and increasing cost of living, the value of the inducement is being reduced and that that is unwise in face of infectious disease?
Is the Minister aware that many beneficiaries under the infectious diseases regulations living in rural areas are suffering hardship by virtue of the fact that they do not receive their paying orders until Saturday? Would he consider recommending to local authorities that they should be in the hands of beneficiaries by Friday at latest?
With regard to Deputy O'Higgins's supplementary, these regulations, it is true, were brought in more than three years ago, in January, 1948, but the allowances were comparatively generous when we compare them with other allowances for sickness benefit and so on. My reply was that I was not prepared to reconsider them at present, but I think they will have to be reconsidered in the near future. I was not aware of the point raised by Deputy Dunne. I will have that inquired into.