§ MR MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Local Government Board Inspector reported the master of Bally-shannon Workhouse for negligence in the discharge of his duties, including also in his censure Mrs. Sarah Kelly, the matron of that institution, as being in a general way jointly responsible with the master for the state of irregularity prevalent in the workhouse; whether, on the Local Government Board calling for the resignation of both the master and 730 matron, the Guardians requested the master to resign, but made the strongest representations in favour of the matron; whether, on the Local Government Board insisting on the resignation of the matron, that resignation was tendered, but, on no candidate presenting herself for the vacant office, Mrs. Kelly was reelected by the Guardians, whereupon the Local Government Board refused to sanction her appointment; and whether, having regard to the fact that Mrs. Kelly has for nine years discharged the duties of matron to the Ballyshannon Workhouse with efficiency, having testimonials from the Protestant and Catholic Chaplains and medical officers of the institution, and that the Board of Guardians, at their meeting on the 19th July, have passed a resolution supporting her application for a sworn inquiry into her conduct, he will satisfy the popular demand by directing the Local Government Board to institute such inquiry?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe facts are substantially as stated in the first three paragraphs. It is not, however, a fact that Mrs. Kelly has for nine years discharged her duties as matron efficiently. On the contrary, in July 1889, she was severely reprimanded by the Guardians, and warned that another unfavourable report would lead to her dismissal. Notwithstanding this warning, the next official inspection in March last revealed an equally discreditable state of affairs, together with additional irregularities. The Local Government Board cannot consent to the re-appointment of Mrs. Kelly as matron, and as there is no doubt that the irregularities existed, and that the matron as well as the master was responsible for them, the Board cannot undertake to grant a sworn inquiry.