Public Assistance Act, 1939

Transfer of certain debts and liabilities.

58.—(1) This section applies to every debt or liability (other than the liability for the payment of any superannuation allowance or gratuity) of a board of guardians or the committee of a county infirmary or fever hospital the liability for the payment of which was, on the abolition of such board or committee by a county scheme, transferred by or under the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923 (No. 9 of 1923), to the council of a county or a county borough and was not paid or discharged by such council before the commencement of this Act.

(2) The Minister may by order, if he so thinks proper, transfer, as from the commencement of this Act or any later date, the liability for the payment of any debt or liability to which this section applies to such public assistance authority or to such two or more public assistance authorities as he shall think fit and, where such transfer is so made to two or more such authorities, in such proportions as he shall think proper and shall specify in such order.

(3) Whenever the liability for the payment of a debt or liability or of a proportion of a debt or liability is transferred under this section to a public assistance authority, such debt or liability or such proportion thereof shall be paid and discharged by such authority as part of its expenses under this Act.