asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that employees of Coras Iompair Éireann who were recently on strike and who applied for home assistance were informed that a directive had been given that no home assistance was to be paid to men on strike; if so, if the directive came from his Department; and if it is his policy not to permit the granting of home assistance to men on strike.

I have given no such directive. As provided in the Public Assistance Act, 1939, decisions on applications for public assistance are made by the local authority having regard to the need of the applicant.

Even though the directive was not given by him, could the Minister say if it was given by anybody?

I do not believe it was because the position is that the local authority are required to give this assistance in accordance with the need of the individual person concerned.

Surely the Minister is aware that a similar situation arose during the building strike last year and the Minister promised in this House that he would attempt to prevent a recurrence?

I did not. I deny that any such situation arose at all. In fact, I know that in a number of cases public assistance was paid.

Surely public assistance was paid only towards the end of the strike when the people concerned, including the officials, were shamed into giving it?

I am aware that each case was dealt with on its own merits.

It was not.

The Minister said in his original reply that as far as he knew no such directive was given. Did the Minister make inquiries?

No, I did not. This strike lasted only less than a fortnight, as far as I know.

In view of the fact that this question was put down to him, surely the Minister was bound to make inquiry of the local authority?

I am satisfied that each case is dealt with on its merits by the local authority.

Is the Minister aware that in practice, whether as a result of a directive or otherwise, all applications from people on strike are automatically refused and that assistance is given only when the people who have been refused persist in their applications but that the official policy is to refuse all these cases out of hand without inquiry?

I am satisfied that that is not the practice.

Then the Minister does not know what is happening and that does not surprise me.

Surely the Minister is aware, with reference to this idea that each case is considered on its merits, that the consideration can be very protracted and this appeal for payment is made on behalf of people who need it? Surely the Minister can make arrangements to ensure that there will be a positive instruction given so that the people concerned will know exactly where they stand in matters of this kind?

I am precluded by law from giving instructions to the local authority as to how they should disburse public assistance.

We know that, but the Minister should be concerned if such a directive went out and he does not know whether it did or not because he did not make inquiries.

The idea of each case being considered on its merits can be and is regarded by all concerned as long-fingering and one cannot put on the long finger the claims of persons who need payment in order to keep their wives and families.

I think it is perfectly obvious that each case must be considered on its merits.

Can we have an assurance as to how long it will take for each case to be considered on its merits?

It has nothing to do with my Department at all. It is a matter for the local authority. The Deputy might get in touch with some active member of the local authority.

There should be proper liaison between the two Departments so that matters of this kind can be expedited.