asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether an Inquiry has been held by his Department, in consequence of an outbreak of fire in February, 1924, at the County Home, Ennis, and if he can give the name of the official conducting the Inquiry on behalf of the Department, the names of the witnesses called and examined, and if evidence were received on oath; further, if persons interested had the right to a legal representative, and if this right had been availed of at the Inquiry, and if he is now in a position to state in what portion of the building the fire originated, and if the cause of fire had been definitely ascertained, the estimate of the damage done, what articles of furniture had been injured or destroyed, and if any documents or records appertaining to the functioning of this or any kindred institution had perished therein.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS ORAL ANSWERS. - FIRE IN ENNIS CO. HOME.
This matter was investigated by one of the Department's inspectors. An inquiry on oath was not necessary. The inspector was satisfied that the fire was accidental, caused by the centre beam of the chimney-flue taking fire from sparks. He reported that everything possible had been done to extinguish the fire and that the books and records were safely removed. The necessary repairs, carried out at a cost of £300, were covered by insurance.
Arising out of the Ministerial reply, is the Minister aware that the Secretary of the Board of Health, giving evidence before another inspector of the Local Government Department, at a sworn inquiry into the administration of this Board of Health, definitely stated that when the pensions and gratuities were being considered by the Board of Health they decided on an average of three years' salary and emoluments, plus 50 per cent. additional and plus 75 per cent. bonus, and that the minutes of the meeting at which the previous gratuities were fixed were not available and could not be found? Will the Minister state, having regard to this answer, what became of the books? Further, I should like to know what were the qualifications of this inspector for carrying out this inquiry, and I would like also to know whether he had sufficient knowledge of physics and chemistry to deal with spontaneous combustion and, further, whether he had knowledge with regard to psychology and auto-suggestion?