§ MR. G. MURNAGHAN (Tyrone, Mid)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether his attention has been called to the unsatisfactory condition of the Omagh Lunatic Asylum; (2) whether he is aware that, out of less than 700 inmates, 96 died within one year; (3) whether those responsible for the health of the inmates have been careful as to the sanitary precautions; and (4) if the inspector of lunatic asylums, whose duty it was to inquire into and report on the condition of the institution, has discovered the cause of the high death rate?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURMy attention has been directed to the unsatisfactory condition of the Omagh Lunatic Asylum. I am aware of the fact mentioned in the second paragraph; a considerable proportion of these deaths were due to consumption or other diseases of the respiratory organs. The Omagh Asylum was in a very insanitary condition owing to the serious defects in the drainage and sanitary appliances. After inquiry and consultation with the 44 Board of Governors, a contract was entered into in 1895 for large additions to the buildings, and for the thorough remodelling of the drainage and sanitary arrangements. These works, I am informed, are now far advanced towards completion. In consequence of an epidemic during 1897, the Board of Control, at the suggestion of the Inspectors of Lunatics, sent down, in October last, a sanitary expert of high repute to make a minute inspection of the works. He reported that they were being carried out in a satisfactory and approved manner. The inspectors made full inquiry into the condition of the asylum, and the results of their investigations have been communicated to the governors of the institution. The inspectors have also made from time to time suggestions for the improvement of the asylum, most of which have been adopted by the governors.