MR. P. O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is the total number of Roman Catholic inmates in the Belfast Workhouse who are chargeable on the poor rates; what is the total number of the official staff employed by the Board of Guardians; what number of the official staff are Roman Catholics, and what offices do they fill respectively; and whether he can say if any, and, if so, how many, of the Belfast Board of Guardians are Roman Catholics?
§ Mr. JACKSONI am informed that the number of Roman Catholic inmates in Belfast Workhouse is at present 1,512. The official staff of the Guardians numbers 102. I am not aware that any official record is kept of the religion of the staff or of the Board.
MR. P. O'BRIENAre not the Board required to have a certain number of Catholic attendants in proportion to the number of Catholic inmates?
§ MR. JACKSONI am not aware that there is any special requirement that the Board shall inquire into the religion of their servants.
MR. P. O'BRIENIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the religion of the attendants has to be registered as well as the religion of the inmates?
§ MR. JACKSONNo; I am not aware of that.