MR. NOLANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has yet seen his way to ask the Local Government Board (Ireland) to modify their instruction, under sealed order, suppressing one of the dispensary districts in the Ardee Union; whether his attention has been drawn to the fatal accidents which recently occurred at Collon, in which the victims died without relief owing to the removal of the medical officer from the village; is he aware that a special messenger had to be sent by car for a doctor in each case; and whether he 1098 can state to what account the extra expenditure is to be charged.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) The Answer to the first inquiry is in the negative. The Board are only aware of one recent fatal accident at Collon, and in that case, according to the statement of the coroner's jury, the dispensary medical officer attended promptly. Expenditure incurred on car hire in summoning medical officers cannot be defrayed out of the local rates unless it has been authorised by the relieving officer.