asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether Home Assistance Officers are required under the terms of their appointment to deliver home assistance vouchers to residents at their residences; and, if not, what method of distributing home assistance is prescribed under the regulations governing the appointment of such officers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Distribution of Home Assistance.
7.
Assistance officers are not specifically required under the terms of their appointments, to deliver home assistance vouchers to recipients at their residences. They are, however, required, both under the terms of their appointment and under the regulations, to attend at such places and at such times as the public assistance authority may direct, to dispense home assistance to eligible persons either personally or at their homes.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say from experience whether any regulation has been provided which fixes a maximum limit on the distance an applicant must travel to meet the officer to receive the home assistance voucher?
I do not think I could quote any specific distance; all I can say is "a reasonable distance". If the Deputy will indicate cases in which a hardship is inflicted on recipients who have to travel an unreasonable distance, I shall have them examined.
Generally speaking, will the Parliamentary Secretary agree with me that it would appear to be unreasonable to expect a woman of 60 years of age to travel eight miles to meet the home assistance officer and eight miles back again? I take it that would not have the approval of the Parliamentary Secretary?