§ MAJOR O'BEIRNEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that, under the Prisons Act of 1877, the Reverend Thomas Fitzgerald, Roman Catholic chaplain for seventeen years of Carrick on Shannon Gaol, was entitled to a superannuation allowance of two-thirds of his salary as chaplain, or a sum of £26 13s. 4d., and whether, as a matter of fact, he has only been granted £5 by the grand jury of the county Leitrim; whether this sum is proportionate to the superannuation granted to other prison officials; and, whether the Government will take any steps to remedy the grievance?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTER, in reply, said, that the facts were correctly stated; but the matter was one which rested with the Grand Jury, and the Government had no power of interference. If the Grand Jury wished to charge the county with a larger pension, the Treasury would, no doubt, entertain any recommendation they chose to make. He found that augmented pensions were awarded to two other officials, in one case in consideration of long and faithful service of 17 years and eight months; and in the other, in consequence of the officer having served 13 years and 10 months, and having been disabled in the discharge of his duty.