Clifden Poor Law Union archive collection, Descriptive List, GPL3.pdf

Clifden Poor Law Union
the PLC agreed to the temporary appointment of a medical officer for Inishbofin.
December of 1862 the issue was still ongoing with the BG advising the PLC that „We
consider no properly qualified medical officer could be obtained to reside in the island of
Inishbofin for a lesser salary than £70 a year. There will be no emolument public or private
beyond the mere salary. We propose to fix the salary at £70 and trust this arrangement will
meet with the Commissioners’ sanction, with regard to the reduction of £20 a year on the
salary of the present Medical Officer of the Clifden Dispensary District, we are of opinion it
would not be a judicious step and that the present salary of £100 per annum is only
reasonable remuneration for the arduous duties he has to perform even relieved of the
attendance on the island of Bofin, he still has a most extensive district and the largest
population of the three dispensary districts in this Union which we look on as a sure test of
the work to be performed.…’ (GPL3/28, p349).
By the end of 1863 the issue was again discussed, this time with the view that the Medical
Office of Bofin should be abolished and amalgamated with the Renvyle Dispensary District
(GPL3/30, f47). This was due to the „...very extensive taxation caused on a great degree by
the vast expenses in this Union under the Medical Charities Act, and the very serious
suffering and complaints made by the ratepayers and public generally of the enormous
amount of our rate which together with other causes over which we have no control are
forcing the ratepayers of the country generally, thus leaving the Union with a very diminished
population and of course thereby rendering it less able to meet those very large and
excessive demands on its means, and further it is our opinion that such an arrangement
would be for the decided advantage of the Union as we would thereby accomplish a saving
of £70 per annum to the ratepayers and the salary of £90 a year at present paid to the
Medical Officer of Renvyle District would be most ample pay for the amalgamated districts
with the fees under the new Births and Deaths Registration Bill’ (GPL3/30, ff47-48, see also
f57 & f116). The PLC were not in favour of the proposed amalgamation, and the Board in
trying to convince them of its necessity advised „...the fearful state of this Union, the high
rate, the poverty of the ratepayers, the exodus from the Union such as never has been
witnessed and which must terminate in a general bankruptcy of the Union if not immediately
met…‟ (GPL3/30, f145).
In May 1864 the salary of the Bofin dispensary doctor was discussed, when it was agreed to
place ‘Bofin under the Renvyle Medical Officer and that his salary be increased by £20 a
year’ (PLG3/31, p45).
In July 1866 the issue was raised yet again, this time the Board advised the PLC that they
considered ‘…it a grievance to be obliged to pay a Doctor from the Island of Bofin which is no
part of the county of Galway, but a part of the county of Mayo and in the Petty Sessions
Cartlann Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe „…cuimhne dhoiciméadach Chontae na Gaillimhe a shealbhú, a chaomhnú agus a dhéanamh inrochtana’
Galway County Council - Archives „…to acquire, preserve and make accessible the documentary memory of county Galway’
xix.
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