§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If it is a fact that no inspector has been seen at the Monteen Colliery, Castlecomer, in county Kilkenny, for fifteen months; and, whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the sufficiency of the existing arrangements for the duty of inspection in that and neighbouring collieries?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.), in reply, 981 said, he was informed that the Monteen Colliery and other collieries in the neighbourhood were visited by the Inspector in July, 1885. The Inspector had also visited this district—not actually the Monteen Colliery—three times this year. Inspections were made in this district as frequently as in other parts of the United Kingdom, and they could not be increased consistently with existing arrangements; but in the case of any complaints or confidential communication to the Home Office special inspection and inquiry should be made.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked if he was to understand that 14 or 15 months was the average period for the inspection of collieries not only in Ireland, but also in England?
§ MR. MATTHEWSOrdinarily that is the average time within which inspection takes place in each district; but I am not able to answer for each particular colliery.