HC Deb 05 August 1907 vol 179 cc1526-7
MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)

To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many newly-elected clerks of union have been sanctioned by the Local Government Board during the past eight years and for what unions; how many of these persons were subjected to a written examination in arithmetic, book-keeping, composition, and orthography by the Local Government Board or by someone on behalf of the Board; and whether the present clerks of union for Schull, Macroom, Dunmanway, Mill street, Fermoy, Midleton, Mallow, Castle comer, Callan, Birr, Clonmel, and Athy were subjected to any written examination before their appointment was sanctioned by the Local Government Board.

(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The following is a list of the unions in which newly-elected clerks have been appointed with the sanction of the Local Government Board between 1st April, 1899, and 31st March, 1907: —

Ballycastle. Lame.
Bawnboy. Limavady.
Belfast. Longford.
Birr. Loughrea.
Boyle. Lurgan.
Cahirciveen. Macroom.
Callan (two). Midleton.
Castlebar. Millstreet.
Castleblayney. Mitchelstown.
Castlecomer. Mohill.
Castlerea. Mount Bellew.
Celbridge. Mullingar.
Claremorris. Naas.
Coleraine. Navar.
Corrofin. Newtownards.
Delvin. Oldcastle.
Dingle. Rathdown.
Downpatrick. Scariff.
Drogheda. Skull.
Dromore, West. Sligo (two).
Dublin, South. Strabane.
Dunfanaghy (two). Strokestown.
Ennistymon. Tobercurry.
Glenties. Tralee.
Irvinestown. Trim.
Kenmare. Tulla.
Kilkeel. Tullamore.
Kilmacthomas. Urlingford.
Kilrush.

In twenty-five of these cases the persons appointed were required to undergo a written examination in all or some of the subjects mentioned in the Question, and in some of the remaining cases an oral examination was held. An examination is not required when the Board are satisfied as to the candidate's knowledge of the prescribed subjects by reason of previous experience in the Poor Law service or otherwise. In one of the unions named in the concluding portion of the Question, the person now holding the office of clerk was subjected to a written examination before sanction was given.