§ Lord N. CRICHTON-STUARTasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that there are fifty-nine children from two to thirteen years of age in the workhouse under the Kilmallock Board of Guardians; whether these children are not boarded 835W out because no one can be found to take the children on the terms offered; whether these terms are 10s. a week; whether these terms are settled by the Local Government Board; and whether he proposes to do anything to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Local Government Board are aware that there are fifty-nine children in this workhouse, and they have asked the guardians to consider what steps should be taken to reduce this number. It has been suggested to the guardians that some of the children might be sent to the Glin District School, that others might be put out to service, and that as many as possible should be boarded out, and the guardians have these questions at present under their consideration. Only such as are "orphan or deserted" children within the meaning of the Pauper Children (Ireland) Act, 1902, can legally be so boarded out, and according to the information before the Board at present there are only about five of this class in Kilmallock Workhouse. The rate of payment allowed for the children boarded out is not determined by the Local Government Board but by the guardians, and it varies considerably in different parts of Ireland. The Kilmallock Board of Guardians have hitherto allowed 2s. 6d. a week for each child, but a proposal has now been adopted to increase this amount to 3s.