Poor Law & the Famine

The Famine

The famine affected all parts of the country, but the south and west were particularly badly affected.  The majority of the population depended on the potato.

When the potato blight first appeared, public works were established to provide employment and the addition of food supplies was imported.  Relief committees were established under the Central Temporary Relief Commission in 1845.

The poor law guardians were instructed to provide against fever outbreaks by providing suitable building, separate from the workhouse that might be useful as a fever hospital.

Admissions to workhouse increased rapidly in early 1847.  The workhouses had rapidly became full.  Conditions deteriorated beyond those pertaining already.  Contagious diseases spread.

Amending Legislation

In  1846, temporary legislatiion created local boards of health and  a central supervisory body with five commissioners and two medical officers.  A further act was passed in 1847 allowing for the  erection of fever hospitals where they were lacking.

The Poor Law Administration Act 1847 created a separate Poor Law Commission for Ireland.  It comprised a chief commissioner and inspector together with the chief secretary and the  undersecretary.  This was designed to give input to the central Irish government to ensure more effective coordination of the local government.

Outdoor Relief I

Contrary to the existing poor law regulations, boards of guardians  commenced providing food relief outside of workhouses.  The Poor Law Commissioners were opposed to allowing outdoor relief, which contravened the 1838 legislation.

The Poor Law Commissioners authorised additional accommodation if a workhouse remained full.  Temporary accommodation by way of sheds  were provided on the ground of workhouses together with renting of available buildings in the locality

The Whig government which replaced Peel’s Conservative government in 1846 decided to make the poor law system responsible for both ordinary relief and famine relief.  It sought to minimise the contribution from central government and to ensure that the relief was provided and paid for locally.

During the changeover from public works to poor relief a nationwide system of soup kitchens its was established under a temporary relief act in  1847, using poor law personnel and officials. Responsibility for distribution of food lay with committees made up of Poor Law Commissioners, clergymen, ratepayers, magistrates and relief inspectors.

Outdoor Relief II

The Poor Law Extension Act 1847 allow boards of guardians to give outdoor relief to anyone unable to work due to age disability, ill health, orphans and widows with two or more legitimate children. Able bodied poor were to receive relief in the workhouse only unless it was impossible in the circumstances due to it being full  or  for reasons of infection. The right to relief existed only for those limited categories who qualified for outdoor relief.

An order of the Poor Law Commissioners was required to allow outdoor  relief to the able body. probably to the able-bodied. By the end of 1847, outdoor relief was extended for over half of the Poor Law Unions in Ireland.  The extension might be limited, for example, to certain categories of persons.

By 1848, half a million able-bodied persons were receiving outdoor relief.  This number increased further to over a million.  Workhouse places rose to over 300,000 by 1851.  The total number of Unions  was increased to 163.

Conditions were imposed on the receipt of relief to safeguard against fraud.  Able-bodied recipients were subject to a labour test.  Certain smallholders were dissuaded from applying by having to abandon their holding. In 1848, the regulations were relaxed so that the family of landholders were not might be granted relief

Rates

By 1848, the famine had ended in certain areas but in other unions, categorised as distressed unions, it continued . Many Unions could not collect enough rates and government grants were given for the relief of distress.

A number of boards were dissolved and put on direct administration of the Commissioners.  Paid vice guardians replaced them to run the Union.

Any national rate in  aid was levied to repay loans made.  This represented the first acknowledgment that relief of poverty could be a national issue (within Ireland, but not the United Kingdom).

Emigration Assistance

Under the 1838 Act, Boards of Guardians could assist persons who has spent three months in the workhouse to emigrate.  The 1847 Act extended assisted immigration to all paupers  including those receiving outside relief.

The 1849 Act allowed guardians to apply to the Commissioner to borrow money to assist  persons in the workhouse for at least a year to emigrate.  The number assisted were relatively small.