LORD OTHO FITZGERALDsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether a Circular issued to the Proprietors of Police Barracks in Ireland, calling upon them to put up certain iron fortifications upon plans enclosed, has been acceded to; and, if not, whether those Barracks are to remain in an indefensible state, or what further steps the Government propose to take in the matter?
THE EARL OF MAYO, in reply, said, the Government were merely tenants-at-will of nearly all the Police Barracks in Ireland. It had been found that there was a great necessity for improving and strengthening some of them, and consequently a proposal was made by the Government to the proprietors, that if they would undertake to pay the expenses of making them more commodious and defensible, the Government would pay 5 per cent upon the outlay; and further, that if the police should be removed from any of the Barracks, the proprietors should be repaid their outlay, and the Barracks remain the property of the Government. That, he considered, was a fair proposal, and he might state that several of these proprietors had availed themselves of the offer, and were proceeding to improve the Barracks. With regard to some of these Barracks, the Government proposed to take 1114 leases of them for terms of twenty-one years.