§ 68. Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915, has up to the present been put in force in Ireland; whether the provisions of Section 2 of the Act have been adopted by any public or local authorities in Ireland; and whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Local Government Board or by any local authority in Ireland in connection with the Act?
§ Mr. DUKEArrangements for maternity and child welfare, in pursuance of the Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915, have been undertaken by the local authorities of twenty-six urban districts (including the county boroughs of Dublin, Belfast, Londonderry, and Waterford) and of two rural districts, and comprise schemes of health visiting of mothers and young children by duly qualified nurses, provision of medical and midwifery attendance in necessitous cases or confinement not otherwise provided for, the institution of maternity centres and day nurseries, and the supply of milk and dinners for necessitous mothers and young children. An Exchequer Grant is available to defray half the cost of the foregoing services, and in the current financial year is being distributed by the Local Government Board to twenty-four local authorities and to twenty-eight voluntary agencies administering approval schemes. Further schemes on similar lines are being formulated.