Public Assistance Act, 1939

Boarding out, etc., of children.

48.—(1) A public assistance authority may provide, in accordance with regulations made by the Minister under this section, for the assistance in any of the following ways (whether in or outside their public assistance district) of a legitimate child who is eligible for general assistance and in respect of which the rights and powers of both of its parents or its sole surviving parent are vested in such authority or of an illegitimate child in respect of which the rights and powers of its mother are vested in such authority, that is to say, by placing such child out at nurse, or by boarding it out, or by sending it to a certified school, or, where such child is not less than fourteen years of age, by placing it out at service, or by placing it in any suitable trade, calling, or business.

(2) A public assistance authority may, with the approval of the Minister, assist any person eligible for general assistance by doing, with the consent of such person and in accordance with regulations made by the Minister under this section, any of the following things in respect of any child which such person is liable under this Act to maintain and in respect of which the rights and powers of, in the case of a legitimate child, both or the survivor of its parents or, in the case of an illegitimate child, of its mother are not vested in such authority, that is to say, placing such child out at nurse, or boarding it out, or sending it to a certified school or, where such child is not less than fourteen years of age, placing it in any suitable trade, calling or business.

(3) Whenever a public assistance authority places under this section a child in a suitable trade, calling, or business, such authority may pay such fee or sum as may be requisite for that purpose and may support or contribute to the support of such child while it is engaged in learning such trade, calling, or business.

(4) The Minister may make regulations for all or any of the following purposes, that is to say:—

(a) in relation to the placing by a public assistance authority of children out at nurse—

(i) fixing the minimum age at which children may be so placed out at nurse and the maximum age up to which children may remain so placed,

(ii) fixing the conditions under which children may be so placed out at nurse,

(iii) prescribing the form of contract to be entered into by such authority with persons with whom children are so placed out at nurse,

(iv) providing for the supervision and visiting on behalf of the Minister or such authority, of children so placed out at nurse,

(v) securing generally the welfare of children so placed out at nurse;

(b) in relation to the boarding out of children by a public assistance authority—

(i) fixing the minimum age at which children may be so boarded out and the maximum age up to which children may remain so boarded out,

(ii) fixing the conditions under which children may be so boarded out,

(iii) prescribing the form of contract to be entered into by such authority with persons with whom children are so boarded out,

(iv) providing for the supervision and visiting, on behalf of the Minister or of such authority, of children so boarded out,

(v) securing generally the welfare of children so boarded out;

(c) in relation to the sending of children by a public assistance authority to a certified school and the keeping of children so sent at such school—

(i) fixing the minimum age at which children may be so sent to a certified school and the maximum age up to which children may be so kept at a certified school,

(ii) fixing the conditions under which children may be so sent to or so kept at a certified school;

(d) in relation to the placing by a public assistance authority of children at service or in a trade, calling, or business—

(i) fixing the age (not being less than fourteen years) at which children may be so placed,

(ii) fixing the conditions under which children may be so placed,

(iii) prescribing the form of contract to be entered into by such authority with persons with whom children are so placed,

(iv) providing for the supervision and visiting, on behalf of the Minister or of such authority, of children so placed,

(v) securing generally the welfare of children so placed.