§ MR. O'KELLYasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that great distress exists, and has existed, in the three townlands of Meelick, Kilcruthaun, and Urris Auken, in the disrict of Loughglynn, county Roscommon; and, whether the Government has received any report as to the existence of distress from the Poor Law inspector; and, if so, whether such report is based on a personal examination and inquiry into the condition of the families claiming to be distressed, and what was the date on which such personal inspection and inquiry was made?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, an Inspector of the Local Government Board had quite recently been in the Loughglynn district for the special purpose of inquiring into representations made with regard to alleged distress there. His last visit was on the 9th and 10th of this month. On that occasion he passed through Meelick, where he found one person on outdoor relief. The other two townlands referred to in the Question could not be identified with certainty, and are probably mis-spelled. The Inspector took with him a list, emanating from the local committee of the National League, containing the names of a number of townlands and of persons residing therein. In his Report he stated that he visited nearly all the townlands named in the list, accompanied by the relieving officers. The Report showed that there was a great deal of poverty in the district, but that there did not appear to be any reason to doubt that 958 any distress which prevailed could be relieved without any special provision being made for the purpose. There are not more persons receiving either indoor or outdoor relief than there were at the corresponding period of last year.