andMr. Begley asked the Minister for Social Welfare the extent to which his Department control and co-ordinate the administration of public assistance.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Assistance Administration.
28.
The administration of public assistance is subject to my general direction and control under the provisions of the Public Assistance Act, 1939. The Public Assistance (General Regulations) Order, 1942, made in accordance with that Act is the present basis for the method of administering home assistance by the local public assistance authorities. Each such authority is obliged to give every person in its district who is unable by his own industry or other lawful means to provide for himself the necessaries of life such public assistance as it appears to it to be necessary or proper for that purpose. The Act precludes me from directing the giving of assistance to any individual person.
I may perhaps take this opportunity to say that considerable work has been done on the preparation of proposals to reform the assistance services, including home assistance, and these have now reached an advanced stage. I expect to be in a position to submit my proposals to the Government for approval in the near future and I would hope to be able to introduce the necessary legislation later this year.