asked the Minister for Health whether he has received representations from the Dublin Council of Irish Unions and from the Irish Housewives' Association in regard to the vaccination of all children free of direct charge to parents; and if he will indicate their nature and the nature of his reply thereto.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vaccination of Children.
asked the Minister for Health if he will state the names of the trades unions and other organisations which have made representations to him or his Department concerning free vaccination of children against polio; and what action he proposes to take in respect of these representations.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions No. 4 and No. 5 together and also to circulate with the Official Report a list of the organisations referred to in Deputy Larkin's question. This list will include those referred to in Deputy Dr. Browne's question.
As regards the other matters raised in the questions, I would refer the Deputies to the reply which I gave to a question on this subject which was addressed to me by Deputy Norton on the 29th ultimo. I have replied, or am about to reply, on similar lines to the various organisations which have made representations to me.
The information sought in the first part of Deputy Larkin's question is as follows:—
Local Authorities:
Cork Corporation.
Rathdown Board of Assistance.
Dublin County Council.
Limerick Corporation.
Longford County Council.
Westmeath County Council.
Trades Unions:
Dublin Council of Irish Unions.
Dublin Trades Union Council.
Cork Workers' Council.
Cork Council of Irish Unions.
Irish Trade Union Congress.
Other Organisations:
The Cork City Constituency Council of the Labour Party.
Andy Clarkin Fianna Fáil Cumann, Walkinstown.
Patrick Sarsfield Fianna Fáil Cumann, Walkinstown.
Area Council Fianna Fáil, Ballyfermot.
Comhairle Dáil-Cheanntair Cathrach Chorcaighe, Fianna Fáil.
Cork Poliomyelitis After-Care Association.
Irish Housewives' Association.
Rockcorry Guild of Muintir na Tire (County Monaghan).
Would the Minister say, in view of the wide discretionary powers he has given to medical officers, if in the interests of public health they do decide to advance schemes of vaccination for children costing up to a total of £500,000, will that amount of money be sanctioned?
I think, Sir, that is an entirely hypothetical question.
I beg your pardon?