HC Deb 20 April 1885 vol 297 cc140-1
MR. SEXTON

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether, on the 17th ult., the wife of Charles M'Sweeney, of Lunniaghmore, Gweedore, county Donegal, went, by direction of Dr. Thomas Finlay, Medical Officer, Gweedore Dispensary District, Dunfanaghy Union, to apply to Shane O'Donnell, Relieving Officer at Fal-curragh, ten miles distant from her home, for an order for a car to convey her son, John M'Sweeney, to the county Donegal infirmary at Lifford; whether Shane O'Donnell, three days later, replied that he would give a conveyance to Dunfanaghy Workhouse Hospital, but not to the county infirmary; whether the ticket to admit John M'Sweeney to the county infirmary was issued on the 26th ult.; whether, on the 30th ult., John M'Sweeney himself applied to Shane O'Donnell at Bunbeg to grant him the conveyance, as he was not able to go on foot, when O'Donnell asked him "Isn't your father a National Land Leaguer," and refused to give the conveyance; whether the ticket of admission issued on the 26th ult. is still unused, the invalid being unable to go to Lifford, and the relieving officer still refusing-to have him taken there; and, what order the Local Government Board will make?

MR, CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

A relieving officer has no authority to provide conveyance to a county infirmary, nor to any place other than a workhouse or fever hospital of a Union. In this case the relieving officer was away from home when the application was made; but he wrote by first post pointing out what his powers were, and offering a conveyance to the workhouse. He denies that John M'Sweeney applied to him personally.

MR. SEXTON

Is not this power given to the Union for a conveyance if necessary?

MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN

That I do not know.

MR. SEXTON

I will put a further Question on the subject.