asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the Gort Board of Guardians, at their meeting on the 12th November, 1921, unanimously adopted a resolution recommending, in view of the Amalgamation Scheme, that Mr. John Gormley be granted a gratuity for his services as Assistant Clerk for a period of twentysix and a half years; whether any action has been taken by the Ministry in the matter; if it is a fact that officials in a similar capacity were awarded gratuities, and will he now take up this matter so as to give effect to the resolution of the Gort Guardians?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - POOR LAW OFFICIAL'S GRATUITY.
The Gort Board of Guardians passed a resolution on the date mentioned directing the attention of the Local Government Department to the fact that Mr. Gormley had discharged the duties as Assistant Clerk for 26½ years and stating that they desired to show their appreciation of his services by voting him any reasonable gratuity or pension which the Department could sanction or recommend.
The Department pointed out that Mr. Gormley was not an official appointed by the Guardians, having been employed privately by the Clerk of the Union and paid directly by him, and he was not a Union officer, and as he was not a Union officer the Department had no power to sanction payment of compensation to him out of the rates. The Ministry have not sanctioned awards in other similar cases.