Vol. 395 No. 3
169 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to change the system of allocation of disabled persons maintenance allowance by health boards; if he is satisfied with the situation whereby certain spouses are not entitled on financial grounds to the disabled persons maintenance allowance although they qualify for it on medical grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Section 69 of the Health Act, 1970 provides for payment of disabled person's maintenance allowance to a disabled person where neither the applicant nor the applicant's spouse is able to provide for his/her maintenance. In assessing eligibility, therefore, a health board is obliged to have regard to the income both of the applicant and of the applicant's spouse. I do not propose to change the legal provisions governing the scheme.
