HC Deb 14 May 1902 vol 108 cc193-4
MR. JAMES O'CONNOR: (Wicklow, W.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will order an inquiry into the cause of the increased cost of maintaining lunatics in the Richmond Asylum.

MR. WYNDHAM

The regulation of expenditure on the maintenance of lunatics in the asylum is placed entirely in the hands of the Committee of Management, by the 9th Section of the Local Government Act of 1898. The Executive exercises no control in the matter so long as the standard of treatment of the patients is such as to justify payment of the capitation grant. The reply to the Question is, therefore, in the negative.

MR. JAMES O'CONNOR

And is there no remedy against these constant increases?

MR. WYNDHAM

Not at the hands of the Executive, to my knowledge.