§ MR. D. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) is he aware that the medical officer of the Ballymahon Dispensary District entered the National Schools of the said District, and there, during school hours, vaccinated the children, without either the permission of the managers of the schools or the consent of the parents of the children; (2) by what authority, or by whose directions, did he perform this operation, as the Poor Law Guardians of the union, as also the members of the Dispensary Committee, disclaim all responsibility in connection with the matter; (3) is he aware that, when asked for his authority for doing so, the medical officer alleged having received directions from the Local Government Board; and (4) if the medical officer undertook to perform this duty without authority, is he to be paid out of the rates for any number he asserts he has successfully re-vaccinated; and, if so, what check can there be on the account furnished by him to the Poor Law Guardians?
MR. J. MORLEYThe medical officer states that the pupils of two National Schools in his district, and almost all those in a third school, went to the dispensary to be vaccinated. On visiting the last-mentioned school in order to examine the children who had been vaccinated, the medical officer found that some had not been done, and he vaccinated them in the school. Owing to the anxiety of the people at a reported case of small-pox at a place called Gurteen, the doctor called at the school there and arranged to vaccinate the children, but was refused admission by direction of the manager. At the Convent School the children were vaccinated by arrangement with the Reverend Mother; and the manager, who was present, raised no objection. A medical officer has no authority to compel persons to be vaccinated. As regards the fourth paragraph, a public vaccinator is entitled to be paid for vaccinating all persons who may present himself at his dispensary for the purpose.