MR. GILIHOOLYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the maintenance of criminal lunatics confined in Irish asylums is defrayed out of the local rates since the passing of the Local Government (Ireland) Act; and, having regard to the fact that prior to the passing of the said Act a contribution of 4s. per head was paid from the Imperial Treasury, which grant now ceases, the contribution in aid of the rates coming from the local taxation account; and seeing that the cost of criminal lunatics in England is defrayed by the Treasury, whether he will have the Local Government (Ireland) Act amended with a view to assimilating it to the English Act dealing with the subject.
§ MR.WYNDHAMThe maintenance of criminal lunatics is not defrayed solely out of local rates, as approximately only one-half the cost of such maintenance falls on the local rates, the balance being met out of the local taxation account. The entire cost of criminal lunatics in England is defrayed by the Treasury, and the Government is now considering the question of assimilating the law in both countries.