HC Deb 19 January 1847 vol 89 c67
MR. P. SCROPE

, seeing the Secretary for the Home Department in his place, wished to learn whether it were the intention of Ministers to lay upon the Table any returns respecting the condition of union workhouses in Ireland? If they did not intend to do that of their own accord, he should be prepared to-morrow to move for such returns. He was anxious also to ask a question as to the truth of a statement he found imputed to the Earl of Mountcashel, at a meeting held at Fermoy on Thursday last. That statement was, that in the Fermoy workhouse, which was calculated for 400 paupers, there were no fewer than 1,500 paupers, and that in the sick ward from three to eight persons were crowded into one bed: in the week before last there had been thirty-four deaths, and in the last week forty-seven deaths. He would follow up the subject by inquiring whether any orders had been given to extend relief to the poor of that district, or others, without requiring them to enter a pestilential workhouse?

SIR G. GREY

replied, that he should be happy immediately to lay before the House the whole correspondence respecting workhouses in Ireland.