§ MR. P. O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord 335 Lieutenant of Ireland, If he is yet in possession of the result of the inquiries promised by the Commissioners of Asylums for the Poor in Ireland on the following questions:—
Whether the architect to the Commissioners of Asylums for the Poor in Ireland, after his inspection of the Asylum at Monaghan in 1883, recommended to the Board of that Institution several important alterations in the construction of the buildings as necessary for the safety and comfort of the inmates;Whether the recommendations of the official in question included the carrying of the several dividing walls of the different departments, which at present terminate at the ceilings, over the roofs, and the reconstruction of some of the ceilings which are cracked and in danger of falling;Whether the carrying of dividing walls over the roof is always insisted on by architects in similar and other public Institutions under Government control in England, as a precaution against the spread of fire;Whether the Board of the Monaghan Asylum sanctioned the recommendations referred to, and received tenders for the execution of the works;Whether they have yet carried out the alterations referred to;and, whether, if the Commissioners have made this inquiry, he will communicate the result to the House?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.),in reply, said, he had no further information on the subject at present. It was only the other day that an inquiry was directed by the Board of Control, and an architect had been directed to make inquiry on the spot. He should be happy to communicate the result of the inquiry to the hon. Member when he received it.