§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what are the local conditions that were considered by the Treasury before arriving at the decision to withdraw the 3s. per week allowance to officers at Maryborough convict prison, as granted to all convict prisons in England and Wales and Scotland; whether he is aware that the price of coal at Maryborough is 30s. per ton above Belfast prices, 21s. above Londonderry, and 12s. higher than Dublin prices; whether there is no school for Roman Catholic boys and no facilities for higher education, and as a consequence parents have to send their children away under the boarding-out system, which does not apply to any other prison in Ireland; whether he is aware that these conditions as applying generally to parents are almost identical with those in English convict prisons receiving the special allowance; and if he will grant facilities for a deputation from the Maryborough staff to discuss the matter?
§ Mr. HENRYThe Government, having considered all the conditions obtaining at Maryborough, feel satisfied that the grant is not warranted. Any comparison of the cost of living at Maryborough and other prison centres must extend to other commodities besides coal. It is not correct to represent that the facilities for education there are inferior to those in other Irish provincial towns.