§ MR. O'MALLEY (Galway, Connemara)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord - Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the fact that in the relief of distress scheme in the Lettermore dispensary district, in the Oughterard Union, no district councillors were included on the relief committees, although it had been promised that the relief would be administered through local committees on which the district councillors were represented; and whether He is aware of the fact that the administration of relief in the Lettermore district is mainly in the hands of a Mr. P. Toole, who is a bailiff and grabber of grass lands and of holdingsof evicted tenants; and whether, in view of these facts, an independent inquiry will be made into the administration of relief in this district, where the poorest and most deserving people are neglected.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Distress Committee in the districtreferred to was formed by the local clergy and not by the Local Government Board. If any of the district councillors desire to become members of the committee they should apply direct to that body. The I Local Government Board understand that Mr. Toole referred to in the Question is simply employed by the committee as paymaster, and has no part in the administration of the work.