§ MAJOR NOLANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If there are any baronial or other relief works in progress in the neighbourhood of Loughrea; and, if any considerable amount of out-door relief has been put in operation in that Poor Law Union?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERSir, no baronial sessions were convened in the barony of Loughrea, the Guardians, at a meeting held in February, having decided that the circumstances of the barony did not require them; but I understand that a sum of about £5,100 has been issued to landed proprietors in the Loughrea Union under the Board of Works Notices of 22nd November last and 12th January. The last Returns of the Local Government Board show that 111 persons are receiving out-door relief in the Loughrea Poor Law Union. On the 29th ultimo, the Guardians of the Loughrea Union passed a resolution to the effect that out-door relief to able- 1349 bodied persons in food and fuel, under Section 3 of the Relief of Distress (Ireland) Act, was not necessary; and that, having made inquiries of the relieving officer and the dispensary medical officer of the district, they had ascertained that destitution such as had been represented did not exist in the locality, and that sufficient employment for unskilled labourers could be had from landed proprietors in the neighbourhood of Loughrea if the parties wished to avail themselves of the opportunity. I wish to add that the Local Government Board are at present inquiring whether the Guardians are justified in that statement.