§ MR. J. P. FARRELLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in consequence of the decision of the Local Government Board for Ireland in the matter of the recent inquiry held in Granard Union on the subject of the nursing system in that union, the nursing nuns are being withdrawn from the institution; and whether, in view of the importance to the sick poor of the retention of their services, and the fact that the main question of the inquiry was ignored in the Report, he will direct the Local Government Board to take immediate steps to retain the services of these ladies.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Local Government Board regrets that the nuns have severed their official connection with the Granard Union Hospital. The appointment of nurses rests with the guardians and not with the Board. If the guardians decide to re-elect these ladies or to appoint other qualified nuns to the vacant posts it is very unlikely that the board will raise any objection.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)asked if the right hon. Gentleman himself would look into the matter. As he understood it the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman would hardly meet the difficulty.
§ MR. J. P. FARRELLasked, as the matter was of great importance to the locality, would the right hon. Gentleman, in case the nuns were not re-elected, give an undertaking that an opportunity should be afforded at an early date to discuss it on the Vote for the Local Government Board.
§ MR. WYNDHAMsaid that it rested with the First Lord of the Treasury, and not with him, to decide when the Vote would be taken.