§ MR. W. ABRAHAM (Cork Co., N. E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, (1) whether the Local Government Board sanction dispensary doctors having the dispensary in their own houses in towns where premises suitable and convenient to the public can be obtained; (2) whether under these conditions they would sanction a Board of Guardians surrendering an existing dispensary held on lease at a reasonable rent in order to accommodate the doctor, five minutes walk being saved him; and, (3) whether, in the interest of the ratepayers, they will refuse sanction to such an arrangement if brought under their notice?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe provision of dispensary accommodation devolves upon Boards of Guardians under Section 8 of the Poor Relief (Ireland) Act, 1851, and it is not the practice of the Local Government Board to interfere with the Guardians in their selection of premises, unless satisfied that the premises are inconveniently situated, or are otherwise unsuitable for the sick poor seeking medical relief; As to paragraphs 2 and 3, the Local Government Board can express no opinion as to the action they might feel called upon to adopt until all the facts of the particular case are placed before them.