asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that health boards are refusing to extend the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to relatives of prisoners who seek financial help towards travelling expenses when visiting relatives.

2.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the health boards are authorised to use the supplementary allowance scheme to help persons who travel to visit relatives in prison.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 1 and 2 together.

Every application for assistance under the supplementary welfare allowances scheme is dealt with on its merits, having regard to the circumstances of the person concerned. From inquiries made from the health boards I am satisfied that applications from persons seeking financial assistance under the scheme in order to visit relatives in prison are dealt with sympathetically.

If the Deputy would let me have particulars of any case where he considers assistance was unreasonably refused I will have the matter investigated.

Is the Minister aware that officers in the Southern Health Board are not processing applications made to them because they deem it to be outside their brief? Would he have this investigated?

I will certainly have that looked into, but my information is that the Southern Health Board state that 12 families were assisted during the last year and, as far as they were concerned, there is no problem at present in having it done. I am aware that community welfare officers have made a submission to the Department of Justice about an alternative scheme.

Would the Minister investigate my complaint that approaches made by me to Southern Health Board officers resulted in my being sent to the probation and welfare service? I can present documentation to the Minister in support of this.

I will investigate that for the Deputy.