§ COLONEL COLTHURSTasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he can state how many unions out of the total number of sixty or thereabouts who were authorised to dispense with the workhouse test during the years 1880–81, did in the opinion of the Local Government Board abuse their power of granting out-door relief; and, how many of such unions are comprised in the counties of Clare, Donegal, or Sligo?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the Local Government Board inform me that it would be impossible to answer this Question accurately without longer Notice than has been given of it, as it would involve an examination of the Union records; but they give it as their opinion that outdoor relief was lavishly and capriciously disbursed in some Unions. I will give an answer on Thursday; but I can say at once that the strongest cases were in Mayo and Roscommon.