§ MR. NOLAN (Louth, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord- 322 Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state, in miles, the maximum distance between the dwellings of poor people who-may require medical aid and the nearest dispensary under the new arrangement of the Grange, Collon, and Drumconrath districts, county Louth; whether his attention has been called to the proceedings of a meeting of the Ardee guardians recently held, and the resolution upon the subject adopted at the same; and whether, seeing that the new arrangement will necessitate a considerable expenditure upon buildings for medical officers' residences, he will carry out the late Chief Secretary's promise to have a sworn inquiry upon the spot, and take local opinion into account before making any change in the old arrangement.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThe existing dispensaries have been retained under the new arrangement, and consequently the distance to be travelled is precisely the same as before. There is no proposal to build new residences for the medical officers. A local public inquiry was held on 20th January, 1904, as a result of which the Board, with all the facts before them, made their Order rearranging the districts. I am not aware that my right hon. friend promised any further inquiry, nor, as I am at present advised, is one necessary.