§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether tenants of labourers' cottages are eligible for outdoor relief; and, if not, seeing that hardship must occasionally be inflicted in individual cases, will he state what relief can be afforded under the Poor Law to the temporarily distressed or destitute occupants of a labourer's dwelling under the Labourers Acts?
§ Mr. BIRRELLUnder Section 2 of the Act (25 and 26 Vic, cap. 83) destitute poor persons who are in occupation of more than a quarter of an acre of land can only lie relieved in the workhouse. It has been1670W held, however, that this prohibition of outdoor relief only applies to the occupier himself, and that if his wife or any member of his family is permanently or temporarily disabled from labour, the guardians can relieve such persons, if destitute, either in or out of the workhouse. In all cases of sudden and urgent necessity, the relieving officer can afford immediate temporary relief until the next meeting of the guardians, whether the persons are in occupation of land or not.