To ask the Minister for Local Government whether an inquiry was held by the Wicklow County Board of Health into the allegation that inmates were not receiving the proper meat allowance per day, and whether the Local Government Board in a letter read at a subsequent meeting of the Board of Health objected to the cross-examination of officials in the presence of inmates, as it tended to undermine the authority of officials. Further, to ask the Minister what steps, in view of this letter, should be taken to inquire into the alleged grievances of the inmates of County Homes, and if it is intended to protect officials from inquiries into allegations made against them?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ ORAL ANSWERS. ] - INMATES OF COUNTY HOMES.
The complaint of the inmates of the Wicklow County Home was considered at a recent meeting of the County Board of Health, at which the officials and inmates were present.
The County Board of Health were subsequently informed that the cross-examination, which took place at that meeting, of officials in the presence of inmates would not have satisfactory results, and that such action would be subversive to discipline. It was suggested as a better method of procedure that it was open to any of the members of the Board to make a complaint of this nature at any of their meetings and to ask that a Committee should be appointed to investigate.
It was further suggested that a Visiting Committee of the Board of Health might be appointed which would meet regularly before the ordinary meetings of the Board and report to the Board with recommendations as to such improvements in administration, equipment, etc., as they might deem necessary.
The Ministry's Inspector who inquired into the complaint of the inmates reported that there was no foundation for their complaint that they were not receiving the proper daily meat allowance.
All complaints are carefully inquired into by the Ministry, but it will be obvious that investigations should not be conducted in a manner which would impair disciplinary control.
I would like to ask the Minister where he got the information originally. Was it from the Press reports?
Our Inspector reported the matter.
Is the Minister aware that in the letter from the Local Government Department to the County Home it was stated that "from Press reports they learned," etc.?
I am not aware of that.
I would like to inform the Minister now that that is the case.