§ SIR FREDERICK W. HEYGATEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether, in any scheme to be considered by the Government for the contribution by Irish counties of a share in the cost of the Irish Constabulary, such charge will be proportioned to the relative number of Constabulary required and 1328 allotted to each county, and to the cost thereof?
MR. BRUCEI am requested, Sir, by my noble Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland to give the following reply to the Question:—It is impossible at present to give the details of the scheme which will be proposed by the Government next Session; but the object will be to give to each county a substantial interest in the reduction of the number and cost of the constabulary force maintained in it. The difficulty lies in devising any plan which will secure this object without imposing on some counties an amount of taxation which might prove excessive.