§ MR. BIGGARasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Is it a fact that there has been no Divine Service on Sundays or holidays in the Donegal Workhouse for the Catholic paupers for nearly two years; whether, during this time, the Catholic inmates have been deprived of the ministrations of their religion at Easter as at other times of the year; whether, practically, the exercise of their religion is altogether denied to the Catholic inmates, and will the Local Government Board allow this to continue; is he aware of the conduct of the majority of the Guardians in refusing the appointment of even one Catholic official to the House, although nine-tenths of the inmates are Catholics; is he aware of their refusal several times to appoint a Catholic assistant teacher, as suggested by the late Chief Secretary, and has it come to his notice that, although nearly all the pauper children are Catholics, the Local Government Board tolerates the continuance of a Protestant teacher in the Workhouse, who has failed at the examination for qualification two years successively; and, will the Local Government Board, independently of the Guardians, appoint by sealed order a Catholic teacher for the Workhouse, or insist on 60 due respect being shown for the religious convictions of Catholics?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI understand that this matter has already been frequently referred to in this House, and has been the subject of much correspondence. The Local Government Board have endeavoured by every means in their power to have it arranged, but without success. It is true that for about a year and a half there has been no Roman Catholic chaplain for Donegal Workhouse, the chaplain having refused to continue in office unless he was given the assistance of a catechist. But the Roman Catholic inmates who are able to do so attend Mass at the parish chapel, and the sick have been visited by the parish priest. It is true that the majority of the Guardians have refused to appoint a Roman Catholic assistant teacher, although pressed to do so. With regard to the action on the part of the Local Government Board suggested by the hon. Member, it does not appear practicable. They cannot remove a teacher because she is not of the same religion as the majority of her pupils. The present teacher is not, so far as they can ascertain, unfit for the task of teaching the children in the workhouse, although she is not a classified teacher under the Board of National Education. The Local Government Board recently offered to increase the Roman Catholic chaplain's salary if he would resume duty; but he declined to do so. They regret the existing state of things, and would be glad if an assistant Roman Catholic teacher were appointed; but they have no legal authority to make the appointment themselves.