asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware of the grave hardship which resulted during the recent strike in the city of Dublin from the refusal to grant public assistance to the families of workers on strike; and if he will take steps to ensure that this does not occur again.

Applications for public assistance received from persons affected by the recent building strike in the city of Dublin were determined, like other applications, on their individual merits following investigation of the applicants' circumstances.

The fact that an applicant had lost his employment because of the strike was not regarded as grounds for refusing his application.

I would like to add that decisions on applications for public assistance are made by the local authority, the Minister for Social Welfare being expressly excluded by statute from directing that assistance be granted to any individual.