asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, a girl with a dependent child is not allowed to claim for such child; and, if so, if he will consider introducing proposals for legislation to amend the Act in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Act, 1952.
Under the Social Welfare Act, 1952, an increase of benefit is payable in respect of a qualified child or each of two qualified children normally residing with the beneficiary. The Act provides that any question regarding the normal residence of a child must be determined in accordance with subsection (2) of Section 5 of the Children's Allowances (Amendment) Act,1946, and the rules made under that sub-section. Under these rules, the child of an unmarried mother must be regarded as normally residing with the head of the household of which the child is a member. If, therefore, the unmarried mother is the head of the household she is entitled to an increase of benefit in respect of the child. Otherwise the increase could be granted only to the person who is, in fact, the head of the household.
I do not propose to alter this position.
Since the new Social Welfare Act came in, in the constituency which the Minister has the honour to represent, there is a big number of cases where hardship is now experienced and claimants are being thrown back on the local ratepayers. Previously, under the old Act, they could get paid at the labour exchange for their dependents. Under the new Act they are cut away and thrown back on the rates.
Would the Minister not reconsider the position in view of the fact that the normal place for an unmarried mother to reside is in her parents' home?
Deputy O'Leary is not right in saying there is any change under the recent Act. The position has been the same since 1946. The general idea under all these Acts was that the head of the household would be the person to whom the number of children would be attributable. I do not know how we can alter that very easily.
Does this not necessarily mean that before an unmarried mother is to be paid benefit for a child she would have to go to a separate house and become the head of the household? That would be an undesirable position in regard to an unmarried mother. It would be better to have her with her mother.
If the Minister makes inquiries with the assistance officer or superintendent, he will find that a big number of people now have to go and look for home assistance because they are cut off at the labour exchange bythe new Act. There is no getting away from that.