§ MR. M. McCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, with reference to the training of the 5th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles at Downpatrick, whether he is aware that there can be obtained on easy terms in the townland of Lisbane safe and most suitable ground for a rifle range; and, whether, considering the number of years during which the training has taken place at Downpatrick, and its superiority from a sanitary point of view, he will make further inquiry, and communicate with the military authorities at Downpatrick as to the suitability of the ground at Lisbane and the desirability of securing it?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe military authorities in Ireland have not received an offer of land at Lisbane suitable for a rifle range. The place named is, however, understood to be in a district over 20 miles from Downpatrick, and, if so, the distance of the range would be too great to allow of training at that town.