asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state, with regard to a recent reply about the additional allowance of 45/- per week payable to an old age pensioner in respect of a daughter or stepdaughter who ceases insurable employment to care for the parent concerned, whether he has yet completed his examination with a view to extending the scheme to qualify those who ceased insurable employment in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

The examination in question has not yet been completed.

Can the Minister give us the number of people who are in receipt of this allowance?

As the scheme is operating at present?

Yes.

There are some few hundred for the entire country.

Would the Minister reconsider this question of qualification with regard to applicants who return from England, particularly in view of the large number of girls who return home to look after their parents? Surely these should qualify just as anybody would who might return from Dublin or some other place to rural districts?

I can assure the Deputy that I am examining every aspect of the scheme.