§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Agnew, Local Government Board Inspector, in his last half-yearly Report of Carrickmacross workhouse, suggested Irish stew, fish, and other expensive changes in the dietary of the inmates, which would cause great additional cost to the rates, and that the average cost per inmate per week in Carrickmacross workhouse is 3s. 9¼d. (according to the last Report issued by the Local Government Board), while in Clones the average cost per inmate per week is only 2s. 9¾d., and Monaghan 2s. 8d.; and whether, seeing that the same inspector superintends the three workhouses mentioned, and is trying still further to increase the already too high average cost by his suggestions already referred to in regard to Carrickmacross Workhouse, the Local Government Board will take steps to prevent any further additional changes being made in these districts.
§ MR. ATKINSONMr. Agnew in his last half-yearly report urged that the recommendations which the medical officer of the workhouse had made with regard to an improvement in the dietary of the inmates should be given effect to. The scale of dietary approved of by the medical officer was subsequently adopted by the guardians, and included Irish stew composed of two ounces of beef and two ounces of bacon per head, with vegetables and potatoes, on three days in the week. This dish, I may state, is strongly recommended by medical officers generally. Fish is not on the dietary scale of the Carrickmacross workhouse. The cost of maintenance per head in the three unions specified is as stated in the question. The average weekly cost of maintenance in workhouses throughout Ireland is 3s. 7¾d., so that the cost of maintenance in Carrickmacross, which is 3s. 9¼d., is only very slightly above the average. Clones union is not under Mr. Agnew's charge, as represented in the question.