§ MR. MAYNEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it is accurate, as stated at the road sessions of the north riding of Tipperary, and reported in the "Tipperary Advocate" of the 2nd instant—
That fifty of the ordinary Police force of the district were taken off, and put on again as an extra Police force;and, if true, whether this does not involve heavy additional taxation on the district, without any addition to the Police force to which the district is entitled?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the hon. Member is probably aware that the Constabulary Acts require a re-calculation every five years of the number of men to which each county and riding in Ireland is entitled as a free force. The last quinquennial redistribution was made by Order in Council of July 27 last, and the free force of the North Riding of Tipperary was then reduced by 50 men, as it was found to be that number in excess of the proportion to which the Riding was entitled, comparing its area and population with other counties in Ireland. But the state of the Riding at the time did not permit of the total strength of the police being reduced; and it was therefore necessary to add the 50 men to the extra force employed under the Act 6 & 7 Will. IV. c. 13, a moiety of the 222 cost of which will be charged upon the Riding. This force will be reduced as circumstances permit.