asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether persons in receipt of home assistance in addition to widows pensions or unemployment assistance are entitled to free boots for their children under the free footwear scheme.

All persons in receipt of home assistance are eligible for free footwear for their children under the public assistance footwear scheme, but the public assistance authority has full discretion to decide on the merits of each application.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction that exists amongst people in the City of Dublin, who are in receipt of home assistance, arising from the rule that any person not in receipt of full home assistance is debarred from benefiting under the free footwear scheme, and if he will state why the scheme has been altered.

I am not aware that there is any dissatisfaction in regard to the administration of the public assistance footwear scheme and I am not aware that any such rule as that to which the Deputy refers, has been introduced by the Dublin Board of Assistance.

There has been no alteration in the provisions of the scheme but if the Deputy has any factual complaints I will have them examined if he gives me particulars.

The public assistance authority has, of course, full discretion to decide on the merits of each application.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary say who is the public assistance authority? Is it the county manager or city manager?

Both. The county manager advises and the city manager advises.

Do the actual members have anything to say?

The Deputy knows well.

I know they do not.