§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the statement of the Lord Mayor of Dublin in reference to the situation in the distressed districts in the west of Ireland; and whether the Government propose to take any effective measures to deal with the terrible state of things?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have read the statement of the Lord Mayor of Dublin with reference to the west of Ireland, but I must say it is a highly-coloured representation of the actual facts. Relief works, subsidised by the Government, have been opened by the boards of guardians of every union in the counties of Mayo and Galway, in which exceptional distress is believed to exist, and about 4,300 heads of families, representing over 20,000 people, have been authorised to be employed, and the Local Government Board cannot find that the guardians have refused relief to any persons who really required it. Many vague complaints have been made as to the alleged insufficiency of the Government relief measures on this, as on previous occasions, when distress existed. The Local Government Board will be at all times prepared immediately to inquire into any definite case that may be brought to their notice.
§ MR. DILLONDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman does not contemplate any further measures for dealing with the situation?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo special measures.
§ MR. DILLONIn view of the unsatisfactory character of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, I beg to give notice that I shall take the earliest opportunity of bringing the question under the attention of the House.