asked the Minister for Health whether, further to replies of 7th February on the subject of decreases in infectious diseases maintenance allowance, corresponding to increases in disability benefit, he is aware that the operation of these decreases, even in cases where there have been previous increases in infectious diseases allowances, has meant that those with infectious diseases have received considerably smaller overall increases than other disability benefit recipients; and if he will take steps to rectify this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infectious Diseases Allowances.
6.
It is inherent in the scheme of Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Allowances that individual allowances will vary within the permitted maxima according to the income of the recipient. Where income from other sources, including social welfare benefits, is increased an adjustment is ordinarily made in the rate of allowance but health authorities have a discretion to disregard such an increase, in whole or in part, if they consider that undue hardship would otherwise result.
I would remind the Deputy that notwithstanding the recent increase in the disability benefit payable under the Social Welfare Acts the Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Allowances are still, in general, in advance of Social Welfare Benefits having regard to the fact that personal and dependants' allowances payable under the Infectious Diseases (Maintenance) Regulations may be supplemented by a rent allowance and a domestic help allowance in appropriate cases. In the circumstances, I see no reason to alter the basis of the scheme of allowances as at present administered.