Mr. POWERasked the Chief Secretary whether he has received a resolution from the Kilmacthomas board of guardians, county Waterford, asking him to introduce legislation to enable the guardians to board out children, other than orphan or deserted children, to suitable foster parents; is there any reason why the discretionary powers possessed by boards of guardians in England, Scotland, and Wales in this matter should not be extended to boards of guardians in Ireland; and will he take steps to meet the wishes of the Poor Law guardians in Ireland in this matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have seen the resolution referred to in the question. In England the classes that may be boarded out are regulated by order of the Local Government Board, but in Ireland they are defined by statute. The matter will be taken into consideration when the whole question of Poor Law Reform for Ireland is dealt with, or upon the first convenient opportunity.