§ DR. KENNY (Cork, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether pensions are ever granted, or can legally be granted, to medical officers of unions or dispensaries in Ireland under the Poor Law or Medical Charities Acts for other reasons than physical or mental incapacity, or length of service and age; whether Dr. O'Connor, medical officer of the Ballycastle (County Antrim) Union and Ballycastle Dispensary, has recently resigned the latter office, and has been granted a pension of £98 per annum and allowed to retain the former office; on what grounds did he receive the pension on resignation of his dispensary; and, if there is any precedent for the course pursued in Dr. O'Connor's case—namely, of being allowed to resign and receive a pension for one office, and being allowed to retain the other?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. MADDEN) (Dublin Uni-1716 versity) (who replied) said: The grounds upon which medical officers of workhouses and dispensary districts may be superannuated are correctly stated in the Question. Dr. O'Connor's superannuation allowance has not yet come before the Local Government Board for their consent; but they understand the arrangement set forth in the Question has been made. The Board are not yet aware of the precise grounds upon which Dr. O'Connor was superannuated. As regards the dispensary, the course mentioned is not unprecedented; but the Board would require very full information before they consented to it, and Dr. O'Connor's case will be fully considered when the matter comes officially before them.