§ 27. Mr. HUGH LAWasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the various schemes of amalgamation of unions put forward by local authorities in county Donegal; whether he is aware that in the case of the Dunfanaghy Union the number of officials of the workhouse equals or exceeds the number of inmates, including the sick; and whether, having regard to the necessity of enforcing economy, the Local Government Board propose to give any effect to the desires expressed by the various boards of guardians?
§ Mr. DUKEAs regards the first part of the question, no schemes of amalgamation of unions in county Donegal have been submitted to the Local Government Board, but the Donegal Board of Guardians have recently invited representatives from Ballyshannon, Glenties and Stranorlar Unions to meet for the purpose of discussing this question, and apparently arrangements are being made for the holding of a county conference. I understand there are as many union officials as inmates of the workhouse in the union to-which the hon. Member refers. The Board, where possible, are most desirous of giving effect to schemes of amalgamation or schemes for the closing of workhouses and the transfer of the inmates to adjoining workhouses under the powers conferred by the Poor Relief (Ireland) Act, as amended by Section 23 (4) and 24 (2) of the Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1916. The Dunfanaghy guardians recently approached the Glenties guardians with a view to such an arrangement, but the latter preferred not to entertain the question at present.
§ Mr. LAWIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Dunfanaghy Board of Guardians have repeatedly written to the Local Government Board in reference to a scheme of this sort and have not been able to get any reply whatever?