asked the Minister for Health if in view of the hardships being suffered by recipients of infectious diseases allowances and recipients of disabled persons (maintenance) allowances as a result of the increase in the cost of living he will take such steps as are necessary to increase these allowances at an early date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infectious Diseases and Disablement Allowances.
16.
As I have indicated in replies to recent questions, the rates of allowances payable under the Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Regulations, 1952, which, in addition to a personal allowance include provision for rent and domestic help allowances in appropriate cases, still compare very favourably with rates of other social welfare payments and I do not feel that I would be justified in present circumstances in proposing any general increase.
The maximum rate of allowance under the Disabled Persons (Maintenance Allowances) Regulations was increased to £1 2s. 6d. a week on 1st January, 1961. Expenditure on these allowances has been running at a high level in recent years and is now over £700,000 per annum, and I regret that I am not at present prepared again to consider any variation in the scale of allowances which would have the effect of increasing this charge on public funds. Where, in a particular case, an allowance is considered insufficient, application may be made to the public assistance authority for a home assistance allowance and the Regulations provide that income from public assistance shall be disregarded in determining the amount of disablement allowance.
Would the Minister not agree that even though heavy expenditure would be involved should he grant an increase in disability allowances, a considerable saving could be effected in the very large cost involved in accommodating these people in public hospitals?
Very few are accommodated in public hospitals.
St. Finbarr's Hospital in Cork, for example.