LOCAL GOVERNMENT (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) ACT, 1923

The Home and Hospitals Committee shall submit their Annual Estimate and Demand to the County Council for its requirements for the ensuing year. A special meeting of the Committee shall be summoned on or before the 15th January in each financial year, at which the Clerk shall submit his Estimate of the liabilities and requirements of the Committee to be provided for by the County Council during the ensuing financial year, and the Committee shall, by resolution, to be recorded in the Minutes of the meeting, adopt the same with or without amendments, and shall thereupon make the Estimate and Demand under their Seal for the amount required, and shall transmit same with dispatch to the County Council, and a certified copy to the Local Government Department. Should the Committee fail to make such Estimate and Demand within the specified time, the Clerk of the Committee shall be empowered to furnish a copy of his Estimate to the Secretary of the County Council and to the Local Government Department.

The Home and Hospitals Committee shall appoint their own Treasurer which shall be a Banking Company.

The accounts of the Home and Hospitals Committee shall be audited half-yearly by an Auditor of the Local Government Department of An Dáil, and the existing enactments and regulations as to audit shall be adapted accordingly.

The Committee shall be charged with the general management and administration of the Home and Hospital, with a view to effecting external and internal economies, and to the utilising of inmate labour as far as possible. Quarterly reports shall be furnished by the Committee to the Mayo County Council and certified copies of same directed to the Local Government Department of Dáil Eireann.

The Committee shall adopt such Standing Orders and Regulations as shall be deemed necessary by the Local Government Department of An Dáil.

The Committee shall make the following appointments, and shall define the respective duties of office:—

For the purposes of administering Public Assistance in Kind, Medical Charities, and such other matters as were hitherto dealt with by the Board of Guardians, a Sub-Committee consisting of five members shall be appointed by each Rural District Council.

The Boards of Guardians shall cease to exist from the date of the formation of the Home and Hospitals Committee and their functions shall be taken over by the sub-committees.

The term outdoor relief shall be substituted by that of Public Assistance in Kind.

The Home and Hospitals Committee shall be charged with the duty of boarding out all or as many as possible of the institution children. The Sub-Committees shall assist the Home and Hospitals Committee in the matter of procuring suitable foster-parents in the districts under their control and shall report regularly on the condition of the children as shall have been already boarded out. The Home and Hospitals Committee shall see that children are boarded out as soon as possible—no child over the age of 3 years to be retained in the Central Institution. Should it be found impracticable to board out certain children the Committee at their discretion may have them transferred to an Industrial School or similar institution.

A separate apartment in the Central Institution will for the present have to be set aside to deal with this class.

The Home and Hospitals Committee shall, with the consent of the Committee of Management of the County Asylum, arrange that persons falling under this section shall be housed in the Asylum buildings. Pending such arrangement this class shall be housed in a separate department of the Central Home.

Dispensary District and Dispensary Doctors shall not for the present be interfered with.

The management of the District Hospitals shall be entrusted to the Sub-Committee of the Rural District Councils, and each Sub-Committee shall co-opt two women members to assist in the supervision of the Hospital. The Sub-Committee should carry out frequent visits to the Hospital, and such visits should be impromptu. The meetings of these Sub-Committees shall be held monthly on a date to be fixed by the Home and Hospitals Committee, to whom a quarterly report shall be submitted. A certified copy of the same report shall be forwarded to the Local Government Department.

Patients admitted to the District Hospitals shall be obliged to pay for maintenance and attendance according to capacity. A paying patients' book shall be kept for recording all such transactions, and the monies received from this source shall be lodged with a duly appointed Treasurer, who shall be a Banking Company.

The Home and Hospitals Committee may, when finance admits of it, adopt a system of home nursing, and to this end may appoint District Nurses, the areas of whose activities and duties shall be defined later. Their duties shall include:—(a) Visits to the homes of the poor, thereby giving timely aid and useful hints towards the prevention of sickness; (b) Instruction as to management and cleanliness of homes and children; (c) Advice as to proper food for the sick; (d) The carrying out of disinfecting and other work under the Public Health Acts now done by untrained officials.

Each Board of Guardians shall be responsible for the transference of their own inmates to the Central Home, on a date to be fixed by the Home and Hospitals Committee. Failing the carrying out of transference by Boards of Guardians the said Home and Hospitals Committee shall be empowered to board out children and such other inmates as they think advisable; to discharge able-bodied persons; and to arrange for the transference of the remainder to the Central Home. The expense of transference to the Central Home shall be borne by the Guardians. All children not boarded out are to be transferred to the Home on the day specified.

A Stocktaker shall be appointed as soon as possible to value the articles taken from the various Unions for use at the Central Home and Hospital. Each Union shall be credited with the value of such articles or stock as may be taken. The fee of such Stocktaker to be paid by the Home and Hospitals Committee.

On a date to be fixed by the Local Government Department, the Guardians in each Union shall call a Special Meeting to terminate the appointments of all officials and of all other employees whose offices and employment cease simultaneously with the coming into operation of the Amalgamation Scheme.

All officers whose offices are abolished and who are entitled to superannuation shall be superannuated (subject to the condition that in the event of any superannuated officer obtaining a position under the County Council or the Home and Hospitals Committee, or any other public body under the jurisdiction of the County Council, he shall forfeit the amount of his superannuation, provided the salary of his or her new position is equal to or greater than that amount), as follows:—

Where an officer who is entitled to a gratuity, and whose office is abolished under the Scheme, the amount of the gratuity reckoned on the salary and emoluments of such officer on the date of abolition of his office shall be as follows:—

The funds required to carry out the preceding Sections 27 and 28 shall be obtained by way of loan by the County Council, and the repayment of the instalments and interest thereon shall be a charge upon the appropriate Rural Districts.

That all Workhouses and Workhouse Hospitals as such be closed.

That a Hospital for the whole County, to be known as the Meath County Hospital, be established at Navan. The Workhouse buildings there to be utilised for the purpose.

That none but acute medical and surgical cases be treated in the County Hospital.

That a Home for the whole County, to be known as the Meath County Home, be established at Trim. The Workhouse buildings there to be utilised for the purpose.

That all ordinary Workhouse inmates of County Meath who cannot be boarded out be sent to the Home.

That the County Home and Hospital be administered by a Committee of Management formed after the following manner:—

That regulations governing the business of the County Home and Hospital be made by the Committee of Management, subject to the sanction of the Local Government Department.

That each District Council subscribe per capita to the upkeep of the County Home and Hospital.

That Demands on the County Council hitherto made by Boards of Guardians in the County be made by the Committee of Management, and subject to the sanction of the County Council. The monies to be paid direct to the Committee of Management by the County Council.

That all appointments of officials to the County Home and Hospital and regulations as to salaries be made by the Committee of Management subject to the sanction of the Local Government Department.

That in the interests of the Ratepayers new appointments be filled from the ranks of existing officials where possible.

That the Committee of Management fix a scale of Hospital fees on a valuation basis, ranging from full maintenance for such patients as can afford it to nil for the very poor.

That a Stocktaker be appointed as soon as possible to value the articles in the various Unions.

That a Sub-Committee be appointed to confer with the Louth County Council with reference to the apportionment of liability in the payment of superannuation to officials in Drogheda and Ardee Unions.

That each Board of Guardians be responsible for the transference of inmates of its Union to the County Home and Hospital on a date to be fixed by the Committee of Management, and not later than January 1st, 1922.

That the Committee of Management go into the question of reorganisation of method of distribution of Out-door Relief with a view to effecting economies consistent with an improved relief of the poor.

That the Committee of Management furnish quarterly reports to the Meath County Council.

That all appointments of officials to the County Home and Hospital for the first year be of a purely temporary nature.

That an officer in each of the Workhouses in the County be made per sonally and directly responsible for all stock and property during the transfer.

That an efficient motor ambulance service be established and maintained throughout the County.

That it be clearly understood among existing officials that the Home and Hospital about to be established are new Institutions, and that the officials at Navan and Trim have no greater claim on the new appointments than the officials of any other Union in County Meath.

That this Scheme come into operation on January 1st, 1922.

That in order to provide for adjustment of accounts between the different Counties, parts of which made up the old Union Areas, instructions be given the various Guardians to pension off all indoor officials, Medical Officers of Workhouses, Clerks, and R.O.'s, in accordance with Circulars 53 and 55 of the Local Government Department, reserving to the Committee of Management the right to continue in office or its employment any suitable officer whose services might be required under the new system.

That from January 1st, 1922, the Boards of Guardians in the County cease to function as such—the Union as an administrative area to be abolished—and the representatives of this County withdraw from the two Workhouses outside the County to which the County at present contributes.

That the Committee of Management be appointed, and hold a preliminary Meeting not later than November, 26th, 1921, for the purpose of taking such steps as are necessary to have the Scheme in operation on January 1st, 1922, the Secretary to the County Council to act as Secretary to the Committee of Management pending the appointment of a Secretary.

A Sub-Committee of the Hospital and Home Committee to look after the distribution of Outdoor Relief. This Committee to meet once each fortnight, and report to the Hospital and Home Committee.

Under the new System (in which there will be no Relieving Officers) applications for outdoor relief to be made on special forms. The bona fides of the applicant to be vouched for by the Councillor living in the neighbourhood. Those applications when dealt with by the Sub-Committee of the District to be forwarded with recommendations to the Hospital and Home Committee. Payment when authorised to be made by means of Paying Orders covering a period to be sent to applicant; the post to be used for transmission.

To meet the urgent cases every representative of an Urban District and Rural District to be supplied with Emergency Help Forms. These forms are also intended for use in cases formerly dealt with by a Relieving Officer in case where it is necessary to provide for a burial, or to supply a coffin. As in the case of application for help (Form H.H., 1), all cases of Emergency Help to be brought before the next meeting of the Sub-Committee in the area concerned and in the forms prescribed.

Rural District Councils to appoint Sub-Committees to deal with applications for Outdoor Relief.

Sub-Committees to meet at least once each week and report to Hospital and Home Sub-Committee.

To form for the whole County an Institution to be called a Home, the Workhouse buildings in Monaghan to be used for that purpose.

To close the Workhouse at Clones, Castleblaney, and Carrickmacross.

Clones and Carrickmacross Workhouse Hospitals to be retained for the present as District Hospitals, Clones to serve the northern portion of the County, and Carrickmacross the southern portion. A maternity ward to be provided in each Hospital.

The Home to accommodate all the aged and infirm, harmless lunatics, imbeciles, and chronic cases.

Hospitals to be used only for cases requiring temporary treatment.

All children to be boarded out where possible.

A separate ward in Home to be set apart for incurable consumptives.

The County Home to be administered by a Committee, to be called the County Home Committee (until after the next County Council election, when the County Council will take over administration of Home), constituted as follows:—10 Members appointed by the County Council, 4 appointed by each Rural District Council, and 1 appointed by each Urban Council of the County. (Seven members to form a quorum).

The District Hospital to be administered by a Committee appointed by the Local District Council of the respective districts in which the Hospitals are situated.

The “Union” as an administrative area to be abolished.

Each Rural District to be charged its proportion of cost of upkeep of Home according to the number of patients admitted from such Rural District, the cost to be reckoned at end of each half-year upon a collective number of days system. Payments made by patients towards their cost of maintenance to be credited to the Rural District from which the patients are admitted.

Carrickmacross, Castleblaney, Clones, and Monaghan Urban Districts to be considered as part of Carrickmacross, Castleblaney, Clones, and Monaghan Rural Districts, respectively, for the working of the Scheme.

All patients to contribute towards cost of maintenance according to their means.

For economic reasons the present system of outdoor relief will not be changed. The four Relieving Officers at present working will, therefore, be retained, but according as vacancies occur the positions will not be filled.

As a result of the closing of the Workhouses and the change of administration of the Poor Law system generally, all work hitherto carried out by the Boards of Guardians will now be administered by the County Home Committee, thus the positions of all officers whose services are not required are to be abolished, and the said officers to be granted superannuation allowance. In the Home provision to be made for the following:emdash/>Clerk, Registrar, Matron, Porter, Medical Officer, and the requisite number of Nurses and Attendants. In each District Hospital the staff to consist of Medical Officer, Head Nurse, Assistant Nurse, and Wardsmaid.

To close the Workhouses at Birr, Edenderry, and Tullamore, and the County Infirmary in Tullamore.

To form for the whole County a Central Institution at Tullamore, the Workhouse Buildings there to be used for that purpose.

The Institution at Tullamore to comprise:—

Inmates of Birr, Edenderry, and Tullamore Workhouses chargeable on the County of Offaly, who cannot be boarded out to be transferred to the Central Institution.

Inmates in those Workhouses chargeable on other Counties to be transferred to their respective Counties.

Inmates in Roscrea and Mountmellick Workhouses, chargeable on the County of Offaly, to be transferred to Central Institution at Tullamore.

Only persons to whom the system of boarding out cannot be applied to receive Institutional treatment. In all possible cases help to be given to people in their homes.

That the Central Institution at Tullamore, the distribution of Outdoor Relief, and the other work hitherto carried out by Boards of Guardians, except work under Registrar-General, be administered by a Committee of Management, to be known as Hospitals and Homes Committee, formed after the following manner:—

The “Union” as an administrative area to be abolished.

The Rural Districts to be retained as at present for the purposes of administration under Committee of Management in the following way:—

Birr Urban and Tullamore Urban District to be considered, for purposes under the Scheme, as part of Birr and Tullamore Rural Districts, respectively.

The Rural District Councils to appoint Sub-Committees to deal with applications for Outdoor Relief, and for the management of the District Hospitals at Birr and Edenderry, which it is found necessary to keep open temporarily owing to transit difficulties.

Two Central Officers to be appointed, one to act as Clerk to Hospitals and Homes Committee, and one to perform the duties of super-intending the distribution of Outdoor Relief and inspection of Boarded-out Children.

In the Central Institution provision to be made for the following Staff:—

In the District Hospitals:—

Under new system (under which there will be no Relieving Officers) applications for out-door relief to be made on special forms. The bona fides of the applicant to be vouched for by the Councillor living in the neighbourhood. Those applications when dealt with by the Sub-Committee of the District to be forwarded with recommendations to the Hospitals' and Homes' Committee. Payment, when authorised, to be made by means of Paying Orders. Where necessary and advisable books of Paying Orders covering a period, to be sent to applicant, the post to be used for transmission.

To meet urgent cases every representative of an Urban District and every District Councillor to be supplied with Emergency Help Forms. Those forms are also intended for use in cases formerly dealt with by a Relieving Officer, in case where it is necessary to provide for a burial or to supply a coffin. As in the case of Application for Help (Form H.H.l) all cases of Emergency Help to be brought before the next meeting of the Sub-Committee in the area concerned, and in the Form prescribed.

Separate accounts to be kept at Offices of Central Institution for each Rural District, in so far as the operation of the Scheme affects the Rural District Councils.

Demands on County Councils hitherto made by Boards of Guardians in the County to be made by Hospitals and Homes Committee, who will receive the monies direct from County Council.

In order to provide for adjustment of accounts between the different Counties, parts of which made up the old Union areas, instructions were given the various Guardians to pension off all indoor officials, Medical Officers of Workhouses, Clerks, and R.O's., reserving to the Special Committee the right to continue in Office or in its employment any suitable Officer whose services might be required under the new System. After this has been done the three Boards of Guardians attached to Workhouses within the County would cease to function (two have already done so), and the representatives from this County would withdraw from the two Workhouses outside the County to which we contribute.

Home help must in future be dealt with in a more careful and uniform manner than in the past, and as far as possible abuses must be stopped. With this object in view the active co-operation of all District Councillors is requested and advocated.

Boarding-out in the case of both adults and children has many advantages. In the case of adults, however, care must be taken that no persons of vicious habits receives any Help outside of an Institution, and that when Help is afforded to parents or others having children or young persons, or persons of weak intellect depending on them, it must be seen to that those dependents are properly provided for. In order to make good citizens special attention must be paid to the children. None should be allowed to remain in an Institution if possible. They should, from earliest years, be given an idea of the advantages of home life, as against Institution life. None should be placed in a town, but with respectable classes in the country districts.

In the course of investigation of the system the geographical formation of Dispensary Districts, and the situation of the place of residence of the several Medical gentlemen comes under notice. In many instances the boundaries seem to have been made without any regard to the convenience of the sick poor or the doctors. The size and populations vary, too, in a very marked manner. The re-adjustment of these is a matter for consideration at a later date. This applies in a special way to Districts partly in and partly outside the County. For the present it is intended to pay on the area population basis our part of such salaries—the Outside County or Body concerned to pay the balance of the existing salary. This is to apply to both Dispensary Doctors and Nurses.

Concerning the general internal administration of Hospitals and Homes, too much importance cannot be attached to the details. In the past the system of separate apartments, or sets of apartments, separate cooking, and other special arrangements for the officials employed, led to enormous waste. The fire and lighting bills alone for a few officers in one Institution, shown by ill-kept records, exceeded the Outdoor Relief in two Rural Districts. This must not continue. Arrangements must be made for the staff, somewhat similar to those for nurses in Training Institutions. In the case of the Central Institution the whole must be placed in the charge of a fully-qualified Nurse—a Sister of the Community at present engaged there would be a guarantee of satisfaction. A sitting-room and kitchen, or use of general existing kitchen, to be provided for staff, with bedrooms situated close by. These arrangements shut out married persons with families.

As in the case of rations, a scale must be fixed regulating the issue of fuel and other allowances to offices of officers, and for the use of patients.

A supply of forms necessary to be issued to Councillors of Sub and Central Committee; Clerk at Central Office to keep a record of inward as well as outward correspondence. Postage to be refunded Chairmen of Sub-Committees at end of financial period.

The necessary change in method of keeping accounts by the various officers concerned have been made, and must be adhered to.

For purposes of comparison and economy in Books and Forms, etc., a uniform Diet Scale for the District and Central Hospitals is recommended.

Only urgent cases should be admitted to District Hospitals, and then only when much nearer District than Central, and in no Hospitals must chronic cases be kept.

All patients should contribute towards their maintenance according to their means. Those receiving sick benefit allowances, and having no dependants, should in all cases contribute.

Patients admitted, and paying full actual cost, to have the right to bring in any Medical Aid they please for consultation.

The Scheme has secured the sanction of the Department of Local Government, and must in all its detail be put into immediate operation.

Poor Law Unions and Poor Law Guardians to cease to exist.

The number of Rural District Councils to be reduced from seven to four, by amalgamating three small Rural Districts with adjoining larger ones in the county as follows:—Ballinasloe No. 2 with Athlone No. 2; Carrick-on-Shannon No. 2 with Boyle No. 1; and Strokestown with Roscommon.

The business of the Boards of Guardians to be transferred as follows:

The former workhouse at Roscommon to be converted into a County Home and Hospital for the county, with a branch hospital at Boyle, in the former union infirmary for sick patients from the whole of Boyle No. 1 Rural District (including Carrick No. 2 amalgamated therewith), and from the northern portion of Castlerea Rural District, as contained in the dispensary districts of Ballaghaderreen, Frenchpark, and Loughlynn.

The County Home Committee to consist of thirty members—half appointed by the County Council, and the other half by the District Councils—apportioned as follows, having regard to acreage, population, and valuation of each district:—

A person ceasing to be a member of the Council by which appointed shall cease to be a member of the County Home Committee.

Boyle Branch Hospital Committee to be comprised of the members of the County Home Committee chosen for, or resident in, the northern portion of the county to be served by that Branch Hospital, and thus preserve unity of control.

Members of the County Home Committee, and of the Boyle Branch Hospital Committee, to hold office until replaced by new appointments after each triennial election of county and district councillors.

Boyle Branch Hospital Committee to furnish the County Home Committee with monthly bills or accounts of all expenditure incurred by them, duly certified, together with a list thereof signed by the presiding chairman, and two other members present at the meeting at which passed for payment. All sums received by or on behalf of Boyle Branch Hospital Committee to be lodged forthwith to the credit of the account of the County Home Committee.

Subject to the general control of the County Home Committee in respect of all monies provided out of the rates, the acts of the Branch Hospital Committee shall not require confirmation by the County Home Committee.

All expenses of the County Home, and of the Branch Hospital at Boyle, to be county charges, the scheme being for the benefit of the county-at-large, a capitation basis being objectionable in that it tends to press unduly on districts having the great bulk of poor people.

The County Council and each District Council to be furnished by the Secretary of the County Home Committee with an account of the receipts and expenditure of the Committee after each half-yearly audit of the accounts.

The County Home Committee to be charged with the duty of managing the County Home with due regard not only to efficiency, but also to economy, and of introducing improvements in the management of the Home, as will lead to still further economies. The inmates not in hospital to be employed and kept at work according to their capacity and ability, and thus avoid the expense of paid help as far as possible.

Poor persons eligible and suitable cases for outdoor relief not to be sent or kept in the County Home.

The County Home Committee to fill vacancies arising in the staff of the County Home from among the officers of the closed-up workhouses whose offices will be abolished under this scheme, and thus avoid payment of pensions or gratuities to officials able and willing to continue in similar employment at the County Home.

Roscommon County Home Committee to pay on a capitation basis for non-chronic patients from the extreme southern parts of Co. Roscommon admitted to the Athlone District Hospital in the adjoining County of Westmeath.

Sligo County Home Committee to pay likewise in the case of the same class of patients admitted to the Branch Hospital at Boyle, Co. Roscommon, from the southern part of Co. Sligo convenient to Boyle.

That the several disused workhouses be disposed of for National use as factories, mills, or other industrial purposes as will create employment for the local workers.

The County Home Committee to appoint their own Treasurer, and to be supplied with funds direct by the County Council.

The rights of the local sanitary authorities to send dispensary and other cases for special treatment to Dublin or other extern hospitals, remain unaffected.

Any matter or thing arising under this scheme, and not provided for, to be settled by the County Home Committee, subject to the approval of the County Council, and of the sanction of the Ministry of Local Government.

On a date to be fixed by the Committee of Management, hereinafter mentioned, all the inmates in Dromore West and Tobercurry Workhouses, and Hospitals attached, and those in Boyle Workhouse and Hospital attached, coming from that portion of the Boyle Union situate in County Sligo, shall be transferred to Sligo Workhouse, which shall be made a central institution for the entire county, and shall be called the County Sligo Home.

The management of the present Sligo Workhouse shall pass out of the hands of the Sligo Board of Guardians, and be transferred to a Committee of Management to consist of 8 members to be appointed by the Sligo County Council, one by Sligo Urban District Council, two by each Rural District Council in the county, one of whom shall be Chairman of that body. The Committee shall co-opt three other members who shall be women. The quorum for meetings of such Committee of Management shall be five. Regulations made by the above-mentioned Committee in regard to the management of the County Home are to be subject to the sanction of the County Council and the Local Government Department of Dáil Eireann. The term of office of the Committee of Management shall be the same as that of the present County Council, and shall continue to function up to the date of the first annual meeting of the new County Council. The first Committee shall hold office for the same period as the present County Council, and succeeding Committees shall be appointed for triennial periods.

A special meeting of each body having representation on the Committee of Management shall be convened to meet on a date to be named, for the purpose of appointing representatives to the Committee of Management. These special meetings shall be held as soon as possible after the scheme of Amalgamation shall have been adopted by the County Council and sanctioned by the Local Government Department of Dáil Eireann.

The present Boards of Guardians shall cease to function as from date of the sanction of the Scheme by the Local Government Department of An Dáil, and all matters in connection with outdoor relief, medical charities, etc., shall be administered by sub-committees consisting of 5 members for each Union to be appointed by the Rural District Council, two of whom shall be members of the Committee of Management.

Each Union shall contribute towards the expenses of the County Home on a capitation basis.

The Committee of Management shall submit their annual Estimate and Demand to the County Council for its requirements for the ensuing year. A special meeting of the Committee shall be summoned on or before the 15th January in each financial year at which the Clerk shall submit his Estimate of the liabilities and requirements of the Committee to be provided for by the County Council during the ensuing financial year, and the Committee shall by resolution, to be recorded on the minutes of the meeting, adopt the same with or without amendments, and shall thereupon make an Estimate and Demand under their Seal, for the amount required, and shall transmit same with dispatch to the County Council, and a certified copy to the Local Government Department. Should the Committee fail to make such Estimate and Demand within the specified time, the Clerk to the Committee shall be empowered to furnish a copy of his Estimate to the Secretary of the County Council and to the Local Government Department. For the present financial year the County Council shall on demand from the Committee advance such sums as shall be deemed necessary to finance the new home.

The Committee of Management shall appoint their own Treasurer, which shall be a Banking Company.

A Stocktaker shall be appointed as soon as possible to value the articles taken from the various Unions to furnish the County Sligo Home. Each Union shall be credited with the value of such stock taken. The fee of such Stocktaker shall be paid by the Committee of Management.

The accounts of the Committee of Management shall be audited half-yearly by an Auditor of the Local Government Department of An Dáil, and the existing enactments and regulations as to audit shall be adapted accordingly.

The Committee shall adopt such Standing Orders and Regulations as shall be deemed necessary by the Local Government Department of An Dáil.

The appointment of officials for the County Home shall be made by the Committee of Management, subject to the approval of the Local Government Department of Dáil Eireann, preference to be given where possible to those whose office shall be abolished under the Scheme, provided that in the case of the appointment of an official who is entitled to or is receiving a superannuation allowance or gratuity under the Scheme, such official must, as a condition of appointment, waive all claim to superannuation, or if a gratuity has been given, must refund to the County Council the amount of such gratuity. All appointments shall be temporary for a period of six months, and the salary attaching to such office shall be subject to revision with the approval of the Local Government Department at the end of the period. The appointment shall then be made permanent, conditional on satisfactory service having been given. Intimation of appointment shall be made through public advertisement, and canvassing shall be regarded as a disqualification.

On a date to be fixed by the Local Government Department, the Guardians in each Union shall call a special meeting to terminate the appointments of all officials, and of all other employees, whose offices and employment cease simultaneously with the coming into operation of the Amalgamation Scheme. Where the Clerk of the Union is also Clerk of the Rural District Council his office as Clerk of the Union shall be abolished, and he shall be superannuated. The following offices and employments are, under this section, terminated:—Clerk of the Union, Master, Matron, Chaplain, Nurses, Porter, Attendants, both male and female, Wardsmaids, and all others who are not specifically mentioned under the above heads.

All officers whose offices are abolished, and who are entitled to superannuation shall be superannuated, subject to the condition that in the event of any superannuated officer obtaining a position under the County Council or the Committee of Management or any other public body under the jurisdiction of the County Council, he shall forfeit the amount of his superannuation, provided the salary of his or her new position is equal to or greater than that amount, as follows:—Each officer whose service is over ten years shall be granted superannuation at the rate of one-sixtieth of his or her present salary and emoluments for each year's service. The length of service shall be taken as the actual number of years served, with the addition of 50 per cent. of such actual service, provided that in no case shall the superannuation exceed two-thirds of the present salary and emoluments of such officer. This addition of 50 per cent. of the number of years' service is granted as compensation for the abolition of office, and the officials whose offices are abolished shall have no further claim beyond what is provided for in this section. The amount of an officer's emoluments shall be calculated on the basis of the average of such emoluments for the three completed years prior to his retirement.

Where an officer is entitled to a gratuity, and whose office is abolished under the scheme, the amount of the gratuity reckoned on the salary and emoluments of such officer on the date of abolition of his office shall be as follows:—If his service has not exceeded two half-years, one year's salary and emoluments. If his service has exceeded two half years, one year's salary and emoluments plus one quarter of same for each half-year which he has served above the two first half-years, but not exceeding in any case five years' net emoluments. The amount of an officer's emoluments shall be calculated on the average of three completed half-years immediately preceding his retirement. Payment of gratuities may be made quarterly or half-yearly should the finances not permit of the payment of a bulk sum. Objections to the amount of either superannuation or gratuity may be referred to the Local Government Department, whose decision shall be final.

The funds required to carry out the preceding section shall be obtained by way of loan by the County Council, and the repayment of the instalments and interest thereon shall be a charge upon the appropriate rural districts.

Dispensary Doctors and District Maternity Nurses shall continue to discharge their duties as heretofore in their respective Dispensary Districts.

The management of the County Fever Hospital shall be transferred to the Committee of Management of the County Sligo Home.

The Committee of Management shall, as soon as the Scheme has received the sanction of the County Council and the Local Government Department of Dáil Eireann, make, with as little delay as possible, the necessary arrangements for transferring the inmates in Dromore, Tobercurry and Boyle Workhouses and Hospitals attached to the County Home.

The Committee of Management shall be charged with the duty of boarding out all or as many as possible of the institution children. The sub-committee shall assist the Committee of Management in the matter of procuring suitable foster-parents in the districts under their control, and shall report regularly on the condition of the children who shall have been already boarded-out. The Committee of Management shall see that children are boarded-out as soon as possible—no child over the age of three years to be retained in the central institution. Should it be found impracticable to board out certain children the Committee at their discretion may have them transferred to an industrial school or similar institution.

All existing Workhouses in the county shall be closed.

Inmates of existing Workhouses in Tirconaill chargeable on Unions outside Tirconaill to be transferred to their respective counties.

Inmates in Workhouses outside Tirconaill and chargeable on Unions in Tirconaill to be either boarded out or transferred to a Central Home.

Only persons to whom system of boarding out cannot be applied to receive institutional treatment.

The infirmaries attached to following Workhouses shall be closed—viz., Dunfanaghy, Milford, Stranorlar and Letterkenny.

All Fever Hospitals in the county, save the following, shall be closed—viz., Donegal, Glenties and Carndonagh. Isolation Wards to be set apart in the District Infirmary at Letterkenny for infectious cases.

District Hospitals shall be established in the Infirmaries attached to the following Workhouses—viz., Donegal, Glenties and Carndonagh. The Fever Hospital at Letterkenny to be converted into a District Hospital.

A Central Home shall be established at Stranorlar for aged, infirm and chronic invalids, and maternity cases, as defined in para. 29. The existing workhouse buildings to be remodelled and renovated for that purpose. All inmates of existing Workhouses in the County chargeable on any Union who cannot be boarded out to be transferred to Central Home.

The existing County Infirmary at Lifford shall be known as “Tirconaill County Hospital,” and shall be open for the reception of medical and surgical cases from the entire County. Private and public wards to be established therein.

The Union as an administrative area to be abolished. All Boards of Guardians to cease functioning as soon as this Scheme shall come into operation.

All Union officials to be pensioned off or compensated in respect of duties of which they will be relieved as a result of the operation of this Scheme.

Such compensation or superannuation to be allowed or fixed on the basis of scales hitherto in force, and same to be a “County at Large” charge, excluding Strabane No. 2 Rural District, where compensation has already been paid and made chargeable on Strabane No. 2 District.

For the term “Outdoor Relief,” and for the term “Relieving Officer,” there shall be substituted, respectively, the terms “National Benefit” and “National Benefit Officer.”

For the term “Inmate,” “Resident” shall be substituted.

For the term “Dispensary Midwife,” “District Nurse” shall be substituted.

A Committee of Management to be appointed by the County Council, composed as follows, shall administer the affairs of the Central Home—viz., 18 representatives of the County Council; 1 member or representative from each District and Urban Council, with 5 co-opted members (3 clergymen, 1 medical officer, and 1 lady). Of above Committee five to form a quorum. This Committee, when elected, to enter immediately on the work of preparing the Central Home for the reception of inmates, etc.

The Committee, constituted as aforesaid, shall meet at least once in each month. The day of meeting to be fixed by Committee.

Any Rules or Bye-Laws adopted by the Committees for the more efficient management of the Home shall include a scale regulating the issue of fuel for all fires, whether in officers' and attendants' apartments, or in patients' and residents' apartments.

The Central Home Committee shall have power to provide for conveyance of intending residents to the Central Home, and shall also have power to provide conveyance for any resident who wishes to leave the Home.

The Committee shall provide for the following Staff for the Home:—A Visiting Medical Officer, a Matron, who must be a trained nurse. Trained Nurses, one of whom must have maternity qualifications (in the event of the services of any existing nurse being retained the term “qualified” shall suffice); Registrar, Chaplains, and Attendants, including a first class Cook; a Porter, who shall act as Ambulance Driver, and, if deemed necessary, a Storekeeper.

The Committee of the Central Home are to be responsible for the undischarged liabilities of the existing Boards of Guardians in respect of such services as are transferred to them under this Scheme. All questions in connection with the segregation of accounts and appointment of liabilities to be decided by the Local Government Department Auditor, subject to appeal to the Local Government Department.

Casual vacancies on the Central Home Committee to be filled by nominees of the County Council selected from members of the body or class from which the person whose seat is vacant was originally chosen.

The Committee shall make an Annual Estimate and Demand upon the County Council for its requirements, and shall furnish all the necessary details, and shall at the same time transmit with their observations, if any, the Annual Estimates and Demands of County, District and Fever Hospitals, and National Benefit Committees to the County Council not later than 15th January in each year.

No persons applying for admission to the Central Home can be admitted unless they were resident in the County for the twelve months preceding date of application. Temporary accommodation may be given applicants not so qualified, at the discretion of the Committee, pending their transference to a Home outside the County.

Persons seeking admission to Central Home shall do so by filling in the prescribed form, obtainable from members of the Central Home Committee, National Benefit Committee, and County Councillors, and the National Benefit Officer. This form, when completed, should be sent to the National Benefit Officer, who shall forward his report thereon immediately to the National Benefit Committee, who may then authorise the admission of applicant to the Central Home, subject to the approval of the Committee of the Central Home.

Chronic cases, as far as possible, to be treated in Central Home and not transferred to the District Hospitals, save where the Medical Officer of the Central Home shall certify such transfer necessary.

All residents of the Central Home shall be supplied with clothing of various patterns made up in ordinary styles. The use of corduroy to be abolished. All present stocks of corduroy and all made-up uniforms as at present in use to be disposed of Stocks of tweeds as formerly used in men's uniforms to be used for purposes other than clothing.

All residents of the Central Home to be classified according to sex, age, and physical condition.

In the Central Home a Maternity Ward for unmarried mothers shall be provided and isolated from other sections, and occupants not permitted to associate with other residents. Rules governing the admission, detention, and discharge of mothers and children to be at the discretion of the Central Home Committee, pending the framing of further regulations.

All residents of the Central Home who are in receipt of Old Age Pension or of Sickness Benefit, and without dependants, shall be required to contribute a proportion of same towards their maintenance in said Home. It shall be the duty of the Committee of said Home to fix such proportion.

Residents in the Central Home who find after admission they can procure a home outside, shall be given facilities by the Home Committee to apply for National Benefit.

The Central Home Committee shall in all cases take steps to recover from the putative fathers the cost of maintenance and attendance of illegitimate children and their mothers, and shall have discretionary powers regarding the custody, maintenance, and discharge of illegitimate children.

The Central Home Committee shall have power to send children of parents whose means would not, in the opinion of the Committee, permit them to do so, whether residing in Central Home or elsewhere, to institutions for special treatment, and to pay costs of maintenance whilst there.

The County Council shall select a competent Stocktaker to advise the Council as to any materials, articles, utensils or equipment suitable to be acquired from existing Workhouses for use in the Central Home or in the District Hospitals. Such stock, when selected, to be valued and the value so ascertained to be credited to the proper Union.

At the last ordinary meeting of the administrative year the Clerk of the Committee shall submit a report showing the number of meetings attended by each member of the Committee during the previous twelve months. Any member of the Committee, who has failed to attend at least one-half of the meetings shall be disqualified, and shall not be eligible for re-election, save where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Committee that such absence was unavoidable through illness or other sufficient cause. Vacancies so arising to be filled at the annual meeting following the last ordinary meeting in the administrative year.

The annual meeting of this Committee shall be held on the same date as the first ordinary meeting in each administrative year.

Special accommodation shall be provided in the Central Home for such imbeciles and epileptics as cannot be provided for in the Mental Hospital.

Where, in the opinion of the Central Home Committee it is advisable to do so, inmates of existing Workhouses, or persons who are eligible for admission to the Central Home, may be boarded out in suitable and approved Homes or Institutions, in which cases the Central Home shall contribute an amount not exceeding the cost of maintenance at the Central Home; means (if any) to be taken into consideration.

A Committee of Management composed as follows shall administer the affairs of Tirconaill County Hospital.

No person shall be eligible for admission to County Hospital unless resident in the County for at least three months preceding date of application for admission. Admission to be on a signed authority from a Medical Doctor or a member of County Hospital Committee, save in accident and emergency cases, when the Visiting Surgeon, Visiting Doctor, or Matron will have discretionary power.

The Staff of the County Hospital to consist of the following:—Visiting Surgeon, Visiting Doctor, Matron, who must be a trained nurse with maternity qualification; Chaplains; requisite number of Trained Nurses (in the event of the services of any existing nurse being retained, the term “qualified” shall suffice), and Attendants; a Clerk to act as Registrar, whose duties will be defined by the Management Committee; a Porter, who shall act as Ambulance Driver, and other Attendants deemed necessary, and a first class Cook.

A Motor Ambulance, internally heated, to be provided for the sole use of the County Hospital. When conveying a patient a nurse to accompany ambulance.

The Management Committee of County Hospital to meet at least once each month; the day of meeting to be fixed by Committee.

The Committee of the County Hospitals to arrange for the classification of all patients as soon as practicable after admission, into “paying,” “part paying,” and “non-paying” patients. It is suggested that patients in receipt of Old Age Pensions or Sickness Benefit, without dependants, be asked to contribute a proportion of their means towards their maintenance.

Any Rules or Bye-Laws adopted by the Committee of the County Hospital aiming at more efficient management shall include a scale regulating the issue of fuel for all fires, whether in officers' and attendants' apartments or in apartments used by patients and residents.

At the last ordinary meeting of the administrative year the Clerk of the Committee shall submit a report showing the number of meetings attended by each member of the Committee during the previous twelve months. Any member of the Committee who has failed to attend at least one-half of the meetings shall be disqualified, and shall not be eligible for re-election, save where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Committee that such absence was unavoidable through illness or other sufficient cause. Vacancies so arising to be filled at the annual meeting following the last ordinary meeting in the administrative year.

Patients may, at their own expense, avail themselves for purposes of consultation with such outside medical assistance as they desire.

In each District Hospital provision shall be made for the following Staff, which Staff will also take charge of the Fever Hospital:—Visiting Medical Officer; a Matron, who shall be a trained nurse with fever and maternity qualifications; Trained Nurses with fever training, one of whom shall have maternity qualifications (in the event of the services of any existing Nurse being retained the term “qualified” shall suffice); a Clerk; a first class Cook; Attendants, and an Ambulance Driver.

Public and private wards shall be provided in all District Hospitals. All such alterations to be proceeded with as soon as practicable. Plans and specifications to be submitted to a Committee representative of the County Council and the medical profession in the County.

The County Council shall appoint Committees for the management of the District and Fever Hospitals, said Committees to be composed of the following representatives, viz.:—Eight members of the District Councils for the areas which the District and Fever Hospitals are intended to serve, two members of the County Council, three clergymen, three ladies, two other members, one of whom shall, if possible, be a member of the medical profession.

Where for the purposes of this Scheme an Urban District falls to be included in a Rural District the Committee shall be composed of eight members of the Rural District Councils, four members of the Urban District Council, etc.

Consumptive Wards for males and for females shall be provided in each District Hospital

Admission to the District Hospitals shall be on the recommendation of a County Councillor, a member of the Committee, or a Medical Officer. The Matron to have discretionary powers in cases of emergency.

The Committees of District Hospitals are to decide, subject to the approval of the Committee of Management, what persons shall be non-paying patients, and what persons shall contribute in whole or in part towards their maintenance and attendance whilst in said Hospitals. Patients in receipt of Old Age Pensions or Sick Benefit and without dependants shall contribute a proportion of their means towards their maintenance while in such Hospitals. The Committee shall fix such proportion.

Patients may, at their own expense, avail themselves, for the purposes of consultation, of such outside medical assistance as they desire.

To facilitate scrutiny and effect economy in books, forms, etc., uniform diet scales for officers, patients, and attendants in County, District, and Fever Hospitals shall be adopted.

Casual vacancies on the Committees of District Hospitals to be filled by persons nominated by the County Council from members of the body or class from which the person whose seat is vacant was originally chosen.

The Committees of the District and Fever Hospitals shall submit Annual Estimates and Demands upon the County Council of their requirements, and shall furnish all necessary details to the Central Home Committee seven clear days before the December meeting of the latter Committee.

Any Rules or Bye-Laws adopted by said Committees for the more efficient management of said Hospitals shall include a scale regulating the issue of fuel for all fires, whether in Officers' and Attendants' apartments or apartments used by patients.

Motor Ambulances, internally heated, to be provided for the use of each District Hospital, and when conveying a patient a nurse to accompany the Ambulance.

Meeting of Committee of Management to be held monthly; the day of meeting to be fixed by each Committee.

At the last ordinary meeting of the administrative year the Clerk of the Committee shall submit a report showing the number of meetings attended by each member of the Committee during the previous twelve months. Any member of the Committee who has failed to attend at least one-half of the meetings for twelve months shall be disqualified, and shall not be eligible for re-election, save where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Committee that such absence was unavoidable through illness or other sufficient cause. Vacancies so arising to be filled at the annual meeting following the last ordinary meeting in the administrative year.

The annual meeting of this Committee shall be held on the same date as the first ordinary meeting in each administrative year.

The administration of National Benefit and Medical Charities is transferred to the National Benefit Committee. This Committee shall be composed of two local County Councillors and five members of the District Council, and where an Urban District falls within the area three members of the Urban District Council shall in addition be included, and the members of the Committee of Management who reside in the District.

The Committee of the Central Home shall fix a uniform scale of National Benefit for the County, and shall formulate Rules governing the administration of same. Pending the formulation of such Rules, National Benefit Committee to have discretionary power. Applicants aggrieved to have a right of appeal to the Local Government Department.

The Committee of the Central Home shall draw up a uniform application form for National Benefit to be used in the County. No application for said Benefit to be entertained save where made on prescribed form duly vouched by National Benefit Officer or member of National Benefit Committee for the area in which applicant resides.

Where it is established that National Benefit has been granted to persons not qualified to receive same, the person on whose authority same was granted shall be liable to surcharge to the extent of the Benefit so irregularly paid.

No person shall be qualified to receive National Benefit unless resident in the County for at least twelve months preceding date of application for same.

Where, in the opinion of the County Council, the cost of distribution of Outdoor Relief is excessive, having regard to the amount of National Benefit actually distributed, the National Benefit Committee shall dispense with the office of National Benefit Officer, and arrange to pay National Benefit by Paying Orders. Where such office has been abolished application for National Benefit to be made as prescribed to a member of the National Benefit Committee for the area in which applicant resides.