asked the Minister for Social Welfare if instructions have been issued by him to local authorities that children's allowances should be considered in calculating means for certain types of cases drawing home assistance.

No such instructions have been issued by my Department to public assistance authorities.

Is the Minister aware that the assistant county manager in Cork made a statement last Monday week that he had instructions either from the Minister or his Department not to take the first 10/- into account, but to take the remainder, paid as children's allowances, in calculating means, to people in exceptional circumstances?

These instructions were conveyed to them in 1950, and nothing has been done since.

Are you continuing the good work of 1950?

We issued no instructions to them.