§ MR. McCARTANI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) whether he has received a memorial from the Board of Governors of the Armagh District Lunatic Asylum, urging inquiry into the cases of idiots and imbeciles in asylums and workhouses in Ireland; (2) whether he can state how many of this class of inmates are in the workhouses in Ireland, and how many in properly equipped asylums; (3) whether he will consider the suggestion made by the memorialists as to the training and education of idiot children and young persons; and, (4) whether he will now consider the desirability of having a Committee appointed to make inquiry as to the admission, treatment, and classification of paupers in Irish workhouses, and also generally into the present working of the Poor Law system there?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe memorial referred to in the first paragraph has been received. According to the latest available returns there are 1,781 idiots and imbeciles in the several workhouses in Ireland, and 575 in properly equipped asylums. As to the third paragraph, I stated on the 11th instant that I was aware of the views expressed by the Inspectors of Lunatics on the 63 subject of providing State-aid towards the establishment of an Institution for the training and education of idiots and imbeciles in Ireland, that the matter is one which has my sympathetic consideration, and that I hoped to be able at some time to introduce legislation dealing with it. With regard to the last paragraph, I have stated several times, in answer to questions in the House, that I do not think that such an Inquiry as suggested is necessary.