§ MR. COX (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention 40 has been directed to the resolution unanimously passed by the magistrates and cesspayers who attended the Clare County at Large Sessions, pointing out that the state of the county having warranted the removal of the three military detachments in Clare, and as the present force of extra police forms a grievous burden on the cesspayers, they would respectfully request the Chief Secretary to invite the attention of His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant to the case of the county, with a view to having the strength of the free force augmented by the transfer of a large number of the extra police to it, as has been done in County Kerry; and what action the Irish Government intend taking on this representation?
§ *MR. JACKSONWithin the past year the extra police force in the County Clare was reduced by forty-two men, and there has recently been a still further reduction of thirty-five men of the extra force and twelve men of the reserve carried out. There is no legal power to consider the question of increasing the free quota of the county until the next triennial re-distribution, when the cases of all counties will be considered, having regard to their claims in respect of population and area.