asked the Minister for Local Government if the Galway Board of Health were acting within their jurisdiction, or in accordance with any powers conferred upon them, in revising and in most cases effecting a considerable reduction in the grants of pension and compensation made by Boards of Guardians to their officials and servants on the abolition of their positions, due to the amalgamation scheme; whether the decisions of the Board of Health in the cases referred to have legal sanction; whether such decisions have received the approval of the L.G.D.; and whether any, and, if so, what remedy is open to an officer or servant who feels aggrieved by the decision of the Board of Health in the matter of compensation or pensions.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - GALWAY OFFICIALS' COMPENSATION.
The Minister for Local Government has asked me to read his reply: The County Galway Amalgamation Scheme did not expressly indicate the Local Authority which should assume liability for payment of pensions and allowances to Officers of Boards of Guardians whose posts were abolished. The County Board of Health assumed the liability, but in some cases reduced the amounts which had been fixed by the extinct Boards of Guardians. As the Board of Health could not make the payments without the Department's sanction, this was accorded merely to obviate delay, and not by way of a determination of the propriety of the amounts. I would refer the Deputy to the provisions of Section 11 of the Local Government (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923, which clearly indicates the procedure as to appeal in such cases.