HC Deb 31 March 1892 vol 3 cc353-4
MR. HAYDEN (Leitrim, S.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is the total for the Royal Irish Constabulary Force of all grades, whether as a free quota or extra force, authorised by Statute to be maintained in Ireland; what was the total free quota for 1891, and what proportion serving in the counties and towns and in the depôt; and what is the total extra force serving in the counties and towns and charged to the local rates?

* MR. JACKSON

I understand the hon. Member to refer to the maximum Force authorised by Statute, and in answer I have to say that the component parts of the Constabulary Force, the numbers of which are limited by Statute, are as follows:—County inspectors and town inspectors, 37; district inspectors, 248; head constables, 358; sergeants, acting sergeants, and constables, free force, 10,006; reserve and revenue force, 800; extra force, City of Belfast, 320; extra force, City of Londonderry, 45. The extra forces for counties under Section 12 and Section 13 of 6 and 7 William IV., Chapter 13, are practically only limited by the extent of the requirements. In 1891, according to a Return, No. 33 of this Session, of the free force, 9,507 were in counties and 282 at the depôt. In the same period the extra force serving in counties and towns and chargeable to local rates was 1,568.

MR. HAYDEN

Am I to understand that the full force has not been maintained?

MR. JACKSON

Yes, Sir. The total maximum force authorised by Statute has not been maintained. The hon. Member must not deduce from that that the extra force is charged where the free quota has not come up to the number.

MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the addition of the men at the depôt to those in the county only managed to make up the authorised number of the free quota, when he replied that the case of Donegal might be made up by a number of men at the depôt.

* MR. JACKSON

I certainly was aware of the fact; and, if my memory serves me right, I pointed out that in the free quota account was taken of the number of recruits at the depôt and of the vacancies.