§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary whether there is any rule disqualifying a poor law officer from appointment to the higher positions in the poor law service in Ireland; and, if not, can he explain why no poor law officer has ever been appointed to the inspectorship or auditorship staff of the Local Government Board for Ireland?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt has been the rule when a vacancy occurs to appoint the candidate who in the opinion of the President of the Board is best fitted for the post. There is no qualifying rule disqualifying a poor law officer as such from the positions referred to in the question.
§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the feeling in Ireland in favour of immediate legislation on the subject of poor law reform; and whether he will see his way towards appointing a Commission on the lines indicated in paragraph 299 of Volume I. of the Vice-regal Commission Report, so that a thorough reform of the poor laws may be immediately taken up?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt would not be possible for a Commission to make any progress towards carrying into effect the changes incidental to the recommendations made in the Report referred to until it is decided whether or not county rating is to be substituted for union rating for poor law purposes.
§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIENasked the Chief Secretary if he can state at what date payments to poor law officials for their work in preparing Returns for the Royal Commission on Poor Laws may be expected; and if he will see that refunds will be made to boards of guardians of the amounts directly paid to officers by them for this work?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe allocation and distribution of Ireland's share of the Treasury Grant to poor law officers for statistical Returns furnished to the Royal Commission on Poor Laws will be made with as little delay as possible, but it is not 983W practicable at present to state the date, as the basis of distribution has not yet been definitely settled.