§ MR. C. J. ENGLEDOW (Kildare, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland—(1) with regard to the fact that the Carlow County Infirmary is provided by law for the treatment of the poor and destitute of that county, and its expenses provided almost entirely from the public funds of the county, whether he is aware that there are grave doubts in the minds of the ratepayers of the county as to whether that institution treats any of the poor and destitute of the county, and whether the law as to the admission of the patients, the area from which such patients should be admitted and the manner of admission, 67 is carried out, and as to whether the funds of the institution are spent to the best advantage; and (2), whether he would, under these circumstances, consider the necessity of directing that this institution be inspected, as directed by Law, by the Local Government Board Inspector, who would also inquire into its general administration, and also that all institutions provided for the treatment of the poor and destitute and paid for out of public funds shall be regularly inspected by a Government official as directed by law.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed that 90 per cent. of the patients relieved in the Carlow Infirmary belong to the poorer classes who are treated gratuitously; that the provisions of the law as regards the admission of patients is habitually complied with; that the Governors believe the funds are expended to the best advantage; and that the accounts are periodically published after audit by a manager of the Bank of Ireland. As regards the second part of the Question, I see no sufficient ground for applying in this particular case a system of inspection which, for more than 50 years, has fallen into disuse.