HC Deb 30 July 1896 vol 43 cc1032-3
MR. JASPER TULLY

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the military authorities in Ireland to discontinue the use of the Birr military barracks as a headquarters of a regiment, meaning a loss to the locality of an expenditure there of nearly £40,000 a year; whether he is aware that these barracks are about the largest in Ireland, and were originally built to hold two full regiments; that the situation is excellent, and the health record above the average; that Birr is a first class recruiting district, and possesses within two miles a range suit-for the new rifle, and moreover it is only 65 miles from the Curragh Camp by rail and 50 by road; and, whether, in view of these circumstances, he will be prepared to advise that the military authorities should make no change in the existing arrangements?

* MR. BRODRICK

The removal of the headquarters of a battalion from Birr was decided in 1890 as a measure conducing to the concentration and efficiency of the Army; and the Secretary of State, while regretting any local inconvenience which may be occasioned, cannot hold out any hope of the decision being changed.