asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that some disabled persons who are in institutional care receive a pocket money allowance of £2 per week whereas other persons in the same institution do not; if he will explain the reason for the discrepancy in practice; and if he will review the sum concerned to bring it up to a more realistic figure.

Health boards pay a personal allowance to persons receiving institutional care who have no income of their own. The amount of such allowances payable is a matter for the health boards concerned but I understand that they vary from £1 to £3 per week.

I am not aware that persons without income receiving such care do not receive such allowances. If the Deputy furnishes me with details of any such cases I will have inquiries made regarding them.

Would the Minister explain how, in the light of the funding provided by the Government to the health boards and provided by the health boards to the persons mentioned in the question, a young adult of between 18 and 20 can be expected to clothe himself and have a social life on £2 or £3 a week? Does he consider this adequate?

No, I do not.

Does he hold out some hope of improvement in the situation?

It will be improved as resources permit, but as the Deputy knows all these things cost money and there are priorities.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister aware that there are some people in institutions in receipt of contributory old age pensions and——

That is a separate question.

(Cavan-Monaghan): It refers to amounts deducted——

It does not refer to old age pensioners.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Some persons have one pension retained by the board and if they have an English pension as well it is also retained by the board. Does the Minister consider that reasonable?

We try to improve the situation as much as we can from time to time and will continue to do that.

(Cavan-Monaghan): It creates discontent.