MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of a possible visitation of cholera, and the fact that the President of the Local Government Board for England has deemed it advisable to supplement the work done by the permanent officials by the re-appointment of extra Medical Inspectors for another year, extra Medical Inspectors have been appointed in Ireland; and whether the Local Government Board for Ireland have made any request to the Government for the appointment of extra Inspectors; and, if not, whether the Irish Board are satisfied with the sanitary condition of the country generally and its preparedness to resist an epidemic of cholera?
MR. J. MORLEYTreasury authority was obtained last year for the employment of an additional Inspector for a period of seven months for special work connected with precautionary measures against cholera. This term of employment expired on March 31st last. Application was made by the Local Government Board to retain the services of this temporary Medical Inspector for five months 369 longer; but as no positive necessity was shown at the time for the extra expenditure involved, I was of opinion, upon the information before me, that no case had been made out for then approaching the Treasury in the matter. In some localities much remains to be accomplished in the direction of improved water supplies, efficient drainage, and the removal of nuisances; but these, I apprehend, are matters for the attention of the Board's permanent staff, which contains four Medical Inspectors.