§ MR. JASPER TULLY (Leitrim, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the proposal to dissolve the Ballymahon Union; whether he is aware that in the majority voting for this Motion were a number of ex-officio members of the Board who rarely attend the meetings to transact the ordinary business of the Union, whilst local opinion is strongly against this proposal, and the Report of the Local Government Board Inspector shows that it would entail a serious financial loss to the ratepayers of Ballymahon; and whether, under the circumstances, the Local Government Board will consent to the proposal being carried into operation?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed that a special meeting of the Board of Guardians was held on the 31st July ultimo to consider the proposal to dissolve this Union, with the result that nine elected and five ex-officio 374 guardians voted in favour of amalgamation with adjoining Unions, and seven elected Guardians against the proposal. It appears from the calculations made by the Local Government Board Inspector that the ratepayers would probably be called upon to pay a slightly increased rate in the event of dissolution whilst the other Unions concerned would gain in this respect. The entire matter is now, however, receiving the consideration of the Local Government Board, who have not yet decided whether they will give effect to the wishes of the Guardians in the matter.