§ MR. FAYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he has any objection to furnish to this House the Correspondence which has taken place between the Local Government Board of Ireland and the Board of Guardians of the Shillelagh Union, in the County of Wicklow, on the subject of walling round the churchyard of Crecrin in that county; whether it is the fact that said churchyard is in an exposed and neglected con- 369 dition; whether said Board of Guardians have refused to take any steps to protect said graveyard; whether the Local Government Board have considered and declared themselves unable to compel the Board of Guardians to have the said churchyard walled or fenced round in consequence of a defect in their powers; and, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce during the present Session any Bill to confer upon the Local Government Board of Ireland authority to prevent the churchyards of Ireland from desecration?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI have no objection to produce the Correspondence on this subject if the hon. Member will move for it. I am informed that a complaint was made to the Shillelagh Board of Guardians that the churchyard in question was in an exposed and neglected condition; but that the Guardians declined to take the steps asked for, and contend that there is no necessity for incurring the expense. The Local Government Board have not made the declaration alluded to by the hon. Member; but, in point of fact, they have no authority to compel the Board of Guardians to have the churchyard walled or fenced; and, as at present advised, I do not think that any necessity has been shown for empowering them to to interfere with the discretion invested in Boards of Guardians, acting as Burial Boards in such cases.