§ MR. JOHN O'CONNOR (Kildare, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, with the view of meeting cases of people who are suffering from infectious diseases,
† See Col. 344.914 but who are not destitute poor within the meaning of the Irish Poor Law Relief Acts, and in view of the fact that it has been decided by the county court judge of Kildare that such persons cannot be compelled to pay for their maintenance in the workhouse hospital, he will consider the advisability of issuing orders showing how far district councils have power, under the existing law, to provide district hospitals for cases of infectious disease, and how far boards of guardians can enter into agreements for the use of such hospitals for the accommodation of their cases.(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Local Government Board do not think that any necessity exists for the issue of an instructional circular as suggested. The Board have no reason to believe that the various rural and urban district councils are not fully aware of their powers under Section 155 of The Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, in regard to the providing of hospitals themselves, or entering into agreements with boards of guardians for the reception and treatment of patients in hospitals attached to union workhouses; and of their powers under Section 156 in regard to the recovery of the cost of maintenance-from patients who are not paupers.