September 5th, 1846: Dublin Castle reorganises public works which are to replace food depots as the principal means of famine relief.
It lays down the terms on which relief work is to be given: "No person to be employed on relief works who could obtain work elsewhere; wages to be 2d. less than that given in the district for other work; persons thus employed to be paid according to the amount of work they actually performed."
Road building is the preferred option, rather than bringing the vast stretches of unproductive bog into cultivation. The government fears drainage schemes would benefit some landlords and not others.
But the worst feature of this form of relief is that hard physical labour requires a high calorie diet, which is precisely what the famished workers lack. Moreover, in an effort to confine aid strictly to the destitute, stringent tests are imposed on applicants. As a result, people are often so weak from hunger before qualifying that they are unfit for employment.
A healthy man can earn - about a shilling a day on the roads, although few make more than 8d. Furthermore, market forces, now given free rein, are working inexorably against the poor; with no brakes on speculation, those blew traders who have secured supplies of Indian meal can charge what they like.
The Rev William Crosthwaite, secretary of the Carrigbue relief committee, Co Cork, asserts that, with the poor facing starvation, a refusal of the Office of Public Works to provide relief works on grounds of insufficient distress is unacceptable.
James Hamilton, Fintown, Co Donegal, warning that gratuitous relief would demoralise the labouring classes, applies for a low interest loan to improve his estates.
Complaints are received from Athleague, Co Roscommon, about the waste of public works funds through the employment of the influential and well off as stewards on high wages.
There is a rush for labour tickets. Maj Denis Mahon, deputy county lieutenant and secretary of Strokestown relief committee, requests 1,000 tickets.
Father Felix MacHugh, Drumahair, Co Leitrim, says labourers on road works have not been paid for 16 days.
Martin Joyce, Kilconnell, Co Galway, is dismissed after sustaining an eye injury while breaking stones on relief works.
The secretary of the Ballymoe relief committee reports seven deaths from typhus fever.
In Clifden, many walk up to 10 miles in search of a day's work and return home in the evening, not having tasted food for 18 hours. "Can it be doubted then that famine exists," a local doctor asks Dublin Castle.