asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether she will consider the introduction of a single parent allowance or, as an interim measure, a deserted husband's allowance.

Provision already exists for the payment of social welfare pensions or allowances to widows, deserted wives, prisoners' wives and unmarried mothers. A pension may also be paid to the invalided and dependent widower of an insured woman who dies as a result of an occupational accident or disease or who was, at her death, receiving an increase of old age (contributory) pension or retirement pension in respect of him. Increases are made in these payments for dependent children.

Extension of these specific payments to other classes of single parents or to deserted husbands is not at present contemplated. In case of need such persons may be eligible for a supplementary welfare allowance.

Would the Minister not agree that the present scheme for deserted wives allowance is illogical in that it provides benefit for an unsupported deserted wife but not for an unsupported wife whose marriage has broken down in different circumstances or for an unsupported wife who is amicably separated from her husband who later refuses to support her? A wife who is separated by agreement and who has two children might get approximately £32 per week under the supplementary allowance scheme but if she was fortunate, in a social welfare context, to be deserted she would get £42 per week. In the light of that would the Minister consider reviewing the scheme?

There are a number of anomalies in the scheme and the case mentioned is one that will have to be considered. The whole scheme is being considered at present by the Department and the specific matters mentioned by the Deputy and ones I have come across, for which I have a great deal of sympathy, will be examined.

Does the Minister agree that the present scheme is illogical not only in its application to wives but to husbands? There are a number of husbands who are deserted by their wives and who are looking after dependent children. They have no form of income other than social welfare. At present they also are depending on supplementary welfare allowance. There is no such thing as a deserted husband's allowance. Would the Minister consider introducing a deserted husband's allowance and also consider the possibility that the existing scheme for deserted wives allowance could be challenged in the courts and possibly held to be unconstitutional? If such a decision was reached in the courts the whole scheme could collapse. Would the Minister consider this situation?

I will consider the matters raised. The general intention of the allowances that exist at present are to support persons from whom the breadwinner has been removed in one form or another. In most countries, including ours, this is normally the husband. However, if there were a sufficient number of husbands in these circumstances the matter would warrant more attention.

Does the Minister consider in a situation where a couple decide to separate amicably, with both feeling equally deserted, that it would be logical that the recipient of a deserted wives allowance might well have a spouse who would feel he was equally qualified as a separated husband? Does the Minister consider that the State should take up the tab at that stage?

The Deputy has outlined an interesting situation which we will bear in mind when we are considering proposals.