§ Mr. NOLANasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in 1904 the Irish Local Government Board insisted upon a re-arrangement of dispensary districts in the Ardee union, in the counties of Lough and Meath; whether, under the altered arrangements, no doctor can be had in case of accident or sickness in Collon at a less distance of 6½ miles, and in the case of poor people the double journey has to be made on foot; whether, previous to this intervention on the part of the Local Government Board, the people of Collon had a medical officer for the poor of the district for more than 100 years; whether the existing state of affairs has been protested against by the inhabitants of the district without distinction of creed or class; and whether, in view of the hardships suffered by the sick poor by the 1904 arrangements, lie will now consider the advisability of reverting to the old conditions?
§ Mr. CHERRYThis is an old-standing dispute which has formed the subject of decisions in the King's Bench Division and Court of Appeal, by which the Local Government Board's action was upheld. In view of the increased cost of Local Government administration in Ireland, the Board have felt bound to carry out the pledges given by successive Chief Secretaries, and to reduce the burdens falling on the ratepayers by amalgamating unions and dispensary districts whenever opportunity offered. While this principle is generally approved by local authorities, its application in particular instances is sometimes opposed, and this was the case in Ardee union in 1904, when the Collon electoral division was amalgamated with the Dunleer dispensary district as then constituted. It is a fact that the village of Collon is some 6½ miles from Dunleer, where the dispensary doctor now resides; 1026 but he visits the dispensary at Collon twice weekly. In the great majority of rural dispensary districts in Ireland there are townlands which are quite as far from the doctor's residence as Collon is from Dunleer. The area of the dispensary district which includes Collon is not extensive or thickly populated, the whole of the Collon electoral division only including about 900 people; and the Board are satisfied from the experience of the last five years, and from the recent thorough inquiries of their medical inspector, that the facilities afforded to the poor for obtaining medical relief are adequate.
§ Mr. NOLANMay I ask if it is not a fact that the representatives of the ratepayers are willing to pay, if the Local Government Board withdraw their objection?
§ Mr. CHERRYI am afraid I could not answer that question without notice. I am sure the Local Government Board will be willing in every way to convenience the people of the district if they are satisfied on the subject.
§ Mr. NOLANAm I right in understanding from the right hon. Gentleman that the decision is on grounds of economy?
§ Mr. CHERRYYes.
§ Mr. NOLANIf the ratepayers are unanimous in desiring to have the arrangement of 1904 upset and the old state of affairs reverted to, where can be the objection of the Local Government Board?
§ Mr. CHERRYUnder those circumstances the Local Government Board could have no objection, but that is a matter for them.
§ Mr. NOLANIf the representatives of the ratepayers are willing to incur additional cost, will the right hon. Gentleman instruct the Local Government Board in Ireland to withdraw their objection?
§ Mr. CHERRYI have no authority whatever to instruct them.
§ Mr. CHERRYOh, certainly.