§ SIR T. ESMONDE (Dublin Co., S.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers (late 88th), now stationed at Pembroke Dock, which is recruited entirely from the Province of Connaught, went to the Cape, May, 1877, from there went on to India at the end of 1879, returned home, December, 1891, and is under orders to move, in the autumn, to Portsmouth; and, if so, whether, considering that the battalion has not served in Ireland for several years, instead of being moved from Pembroke Dock so soon, it could be sent to Mullingar, which station will be then vacant?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe facts are practically as stated in the question. The battalion, however, went abroad from 1446 Ireland, and although on its return it was decided to station it in England, it will probably proceed to Ireland in its turn. I may add that out of eight Irish battalions now serving at home five are in Ireland.