§ MR. JOHN O'DONNELL (Mayo, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord- 1218 Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that all the officials in Armagh, with one exception, are Protestants, not-withstanding the fact that a majority of the ratepayers and inmates are Catholics; and, if so, whether he will instruct the Local Government Board not to sanction the appointment of any other Protestant until such time as at least half-a-dozen Catholic officials are appointed.
(Answered by Mr. Wyndham.) The Board has no information in respect of the religious denominations of Poor Law officials, with the exception of chaplains of workhouses and of nuns employed in the capacity of matron, schoolmistress. or nurse in various workhouse infirmaries. Questions of religion are not considered by the Board in determining whether its sanction shall be given or withheld in the case of an appointment other than that of chaplain. The reply to the second inquiry is, therefore in the negative.