PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT, 1937

Type Act

Publication 1937-02-26

Last updated 1939-08-08

State Partially repealed superseded text

Text As published

Source Irish Statute Book

articles 6

This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.

1 amending act · 1939-08-08, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT, 1939

Reform history JSON API

AN ACT TO ENABLE BODIES CHARGED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE RELIEF OF THE POOR TO GIVE ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN CLASSES OF SOCIETIES ENGAGED IN RELIEVING POOR PERSONS, AND TO VALIDATE ASSISTANCE SO GIVEN BY SUCH BODIES BEFORE THE PASSING OF THIS ACT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR MATTERS INCIDENTAL TO OR CONNECTED WITH THE MATTERS AFORESAID. [26th February, 1937.]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:—

1 Definitions.

1.—In this Act—

the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Local Government and Public Health;

the expression “public assistance authority” means a body charged by law with the administration of the relief of the poor;

the expression “society for relieving poor persons” means a body of persons, incorporated or unincorporated, which has as its object or one of its objects the giving of relief to poor persons.

2 Assistance of societies for relieving poor persons.

2.—Whenever a public assistance authority is satisfied that a society for relieving poor persons affords or proposes to afford relief to poor persons by providing food and lodging for such persons in premises under the control of such society in the functional area of such public assistance authority and that such society by so doing renders or will render useful aid in the administration of the relief of the poor in such functional area, such public assistance authority may, with the consent of the Minister and subject to such limitations and conditions as he shall impose, give assistance to such society in any one or more of the following ways, that is to say:—

(a) by contributing to the expenses incurred by such society in affording relief to poor persons in the manner aforesaid, or

(b) by supplying to such society fuel, light, food, water, or other commodity for use by such society in so affording relief to poor persons, or

(c) by permitting the use by such society, for the purpose of so affording relief to poor persons, of premises in the occupation of such public assistance authority and, where requisite, executing alterations and repairs to and supplying furniture and fittings for such premises in order to make them suitable for use for such purpose, or

(d) by providing premises (with all requisite furniture and fittings) for use by such society for the purpose of so affording relief to poor persons.

3 Validation of assistance heretofore given.

3.—Where—

(a) a public assistance authority has, at any time within ten years before the passing of this Act, given to a society for relieving poor persons any assistance which such public assistance authority could, with the consent of the Minister, have lawfully given to such society if this Act had then been in force, and

(b) the Minister, within six months after the passing of this Act, certifies that the giving of such assistance was reasonable and in the public interest,

the giving of such assistance by such public assistance authority to such society and the defrayal by such authority of the expense of so giving such assistance (including any borrowing by such authority for the purposes of such defrayal) shall be and be deemed always to have been as lawful and valid as the same would have been if this Act had then been in force and such assistance had been so given and such borrowing (if any) had been made with the consent of the Minister.

4 Expenses of public assistance authorities.

4.—All expenses incurred by a public assistance authority under this Act shall be raised and defrayed as part of the expenses incurred by such authority in the administration of the relief of the poor.

5 Borrowing by public assistance authorities.

5.—A public assistance authority may, with the consent of the Minister, borrow for the purpose of doing under this Act all or any of the following things, that is to say, providing premises, executing alterations or repairs to premises, or supplying or providing furniture and fittings for premises.

6 Short title and construction.

6.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Public Assistance Act, 1937.

(2) This Act shall be construed as one with the Poor Relief (Ireland) Acts, 1838 to 1914.

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