The Irish poor laws were a series of acts of Parliament intended to address social instability due to widespread and persistent poverty in Ireland.

In 1703, the Irish Parliament passed an act, 2 Anne c. 19 (I), for "Providing the erection of a workhouse and for the maintenance and apprenticing out of foundling children" establishing the House of Industry in Dublin.

Electoral divisions returned members to the board of guardians, with voters who paid higher rates having more votes.

[5][6] During and after the Great Famine, boundaries in the impoverished west were redrawn to create more and smaller union for easier administration.

During the Great Famine, workhouses became so overwhelmed that large numbers of paupers were assisted to emigrate.