MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland who is responsible for supplying him with the information as to the action of the mothers of the children from Nenagh, whose discharge he ordered from the industrial schools; and if he is not satisfied of its accuracy, will he permit those of the children who are still retained at Birr School to remain there, seeing that otherwise they may have to enter the workhouse.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI presume the first paragraph refers to the date at which the mothers of the children referred to left Nenagh. In my reply to the hon. and learned Member's previous question of the 7th July, I stated that these women disappeared when the Order for the discharge of the children was issued on the 10th April. It has since been represented to me that they left Nenagh at a date antecedent to the order of discharge, although the actual date was not given by my correspondent. Without knowing the actual date I am not in a position to say how far this correction has any relevancy; but in any case it would form only one element in the considerations which have led to the discharge of the children.
MR. T. M. HEALYI hope that during the Recess the right hon. Gentleman will look into this matter and see whether, in mercy to the children, they cannot be left at the Birr School.