asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that in County Wexford there was no issue of extra food vouchers or emergency supplementary allowances during the first three weeks of April, 1946; and whether he will state the reason for the failure to make such issues, and the steps taken to have the issues made without delay.

I have received no representations regarding the non-issue of food vouchers or supplementary cash allowances in County Wexford during the month of April, 1946. From enquiries made, I learn that the manager ordered on the 18th ultimo that the issue of vouchers and cash allowances should be continued.

The information I have is that it was the Department stopped the supplementary allowances and the 2/6. I got in touch with the county manager about the matter. Is it the Department is in fault or the county manager?

Is it not a fact that it was only when representations were made to the county manager that the food vouchers and supplementary allowances were granted?

On May 2nd, 1946, a circular letter was issued to local authorities, including those in Wexford, stating that provision has been made for the continuance, in the current financial year, of the schemes for emergency supplementary cash allowances.

Payment was held up for a certain period.

I am trying to reply to the supplementary put by Deputy O'Leary who did not put down the original question. In the light of the terms of that circular letter, it can scarcely be charged against the Department that the fault is at headquarters.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the officials in charge of home assistance issued orders to the relieving officer not to make the payment until he got official word from the Department?

Is the Deputy aware that the allowances have in fact been paid?

After three weeks in my area.

Have they been paid without a break? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there was a definite break, not only this year but last year, in these allowances, although they are supposed to be paid throughout the whole year?

The allowances in Wexford have been paid for the month of April and the question relates to the month of April.

It is not confined to Wexford.

They were not paid in the first week of April, but three weeks later.

Do not blame me for that.