HC Deb 06 August 1883 vol 282 cc1641-2
MR. GRAY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as President of the Local Government Board, Ireland, Whether he can state the number of sanitary authorities in Ireland, and the number of such authorities who have adopted bye-laws under the Public Health (Ireland) Act of 1878; and, whether the Local Government Board of Ireland has issued to the Irish sanitary authorities sets of model bye-laws, such as have been issued to the English sanitary authorities by the English Local Government Board?

MR. TREVELYAN

The number of such authorities is 223. The number who have adopted bye-laws under the Public Health Act is 33—namely, 25 urban and eight rural. The Local Government Board has not issued sets of model bye-laws; but facilities are readily afforded to any sanitary authorities finding any difficulty on the subject.

MR. GRAY

Will bye-laws be issued by the Local Government Board to the Irish sanitary autberities similar to those issued by the English Local Government Board?

MR. TREVELYAN

I will inquire.

MR. GRAY

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that it is almost impossible for sanitary authorities in urban sanitary districts in Ireland to make preparations for special hospital accommodation, or to take other precautions against outbreaks of such diseases as cholera, owing to the provisions of the Public Health Act, under which, in the event of an outbreak, the duty of taking special measures to cope with it would be transferred from the present urban sanitary authorities — the Corporations and Town Commissioners—to the Boards of Guardians?

MR. TREVELYAN

The Government are not prepared to admit that the present state of the law renders it almost impossible for sanitary authori- ties in urban districts in Ireland to take the necessary precautions against outbreaks of such diseases as cholera. Boards of Guardians have full power to make preparation for special hospital accommodation; but there appears to be no doubt that it would be better and more convenient in some of the large towns in Ireland if the urban sanitary authorities, who have charge of the execution of the Public Health Act in ordinary times, should also be intrusted with the special arrangements necessary to prevent the spread of infectious disease when an epidemic prevails or is threatened.