§ MR. MACVEAGHTo ask the Chef Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state what steps have been taken, or will be taken, by the Local Government Board to secure that the Catholic children n the Armagh Workhouse will receive adequate religious instruction; and whether, seeing that this matter has been under consideration for four years, he can say when the Local Government Board intends to deal with it.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed that in the year 1903 the guardians of the Armagh Union, despite the protest of the Local Government Board, dispensed with the services of the assistant teacher, who had also acted as Catholic catechist. The Board have since repeatedly urged the guardians to appoint a successor, and have expressed their willingness to allow recoupment from the local taxation fund upon the salary involved. The guardians, however, have declined to make any appointment, and, under the existing regulations, the Board have no power to compel them to do so.