§ MR. MACVEAGH () Down, S.I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that under present regulations a board of guardians in Ireland is not enabled to grant outdoor relief to any person in occupation of more than a quarter of a statute acre of land, though such person may be disabled or even certified as unfit for removal to the workhouse hospital; and whether he will recommend the Local Government Board to instruct their auditors not to surcharge on the guardians any relief extended in deserving cases outside the present limitation.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe prohibition to grant outdoor relief to persons in occupation of more than a quarter of an acre of land is a statutory one, and the Board has no power to instruct its auditors in the manner suggested. In cases of sudden and urgent necessity a relieving officer is empowered to afford outdoor relief until the next meeting of the board of guardians, irrespectively of the quantity of land held, and such relief may be renewed if new circumstances arise under which there is a necessity for affording relief promptly and immediately.