§ MR. HENNESSYsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland what steps the Government propose to take respecting the great destitution prevailing amongst the peasantry and labouring classes in the West of Ireland.
§ MR. CARDWELLreplied, he was sorry to say that a considerable amount of destitution existed in the district to which the hon. Gentleman had referred, but he hoped that some of the statements made on the subject were overcharged. He had been informed that the union-house at Balmullet was capable of holding 600 persons, but that at present only 104 persons were in it, being an increase of about double of the number of inmates at the corresponding period of last year. In the other two unions of the district Castlebar and West-port, he believed there had been no very considerable increase in the number of inmates. He was in constant communication with those who superintended the administration of the poor law in Ireland, and he had every reason to hope that the ordinary administration of the poor law in those unions would suffice to meet the distress 1886 that existed. At present, at all events, he was not prepared to hold out any hope of special assistance from the Government.