asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether in view of the increased cost of living it is proposed to increase the existing rates of children's allowances.

In view of the fact that the rates of children's allowances were increased as recently as last November, when the scope of the scheme was also extended to provide for the payment of an allowance in respect of the first child in each family, the introduction of legislation for the purpose of further increasing the rates of allowance is not contemplated at present.