§ MR. JAMES DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether any large reduction in the Constabulary Force in Ireland is contemplated by the Government; and (2) whether he can state how many Divisional Commissioners or Resident Magistrates are to be disemployed, and to what extent the lower grades of the force are to be reduced?
§ MR. RICHARD M. DANE (Fermanagh, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the nature of the contemplated reduction in the strength of the Royal Irish Constabulary Force, and the anticipated saving in the annual expenditure thereby?
§ Mr. GERALD BALFOURIt is proposed to effect a considerable reduction in the strength of the Royal Irish Constabulary by allowing the force to waste down, through retirements and the stoppage of recruiting, by 605 men, after which the strength of the force will stand at 10,830. The gross reduction to be effected on the Constabulary Vote during the next financial year is estimated at £39,000. but against this there is an increase under the head of Pensions of £18,000. The ultimate saving arising out of the proposed reduction is estimated at £60,000 per annum. As regards the second paragraph of the question of the hon. Member for South Monaghan, there are no proposals at present under consideration for a diminution of the number of Divisional Commissioners or Resident Magistrates.
§ MR. PATRICK M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary 672 to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1) whether the cost of the Royal Irish Constabulary has increased from 10¾d. per bead of the population in 1836 to 6s. 4d per head in 1895; (2) how many extra police are at present maintained at the Depot, Dublin, and what was the cost of same in the last financial year; and (3) will he, in view of the peaceful condition of Ireland, consider the advisability of reducing the strength of the Royal Irish Constabularly force, and applying the moneys which might be saved by the reduction to the material improvement of Ireland?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe figures quoted in the first paragraph of the Question are approximately correct. There are no extra police employed at the Depot. The force there consists of men of the reserve and of recruits in training for vacancies in the country, and these men, financially, form part of the Constabulary Force at large. The suggestion in the third paragraph forms part of a large question on which the hon. Member will hardly expect me to express an opinion at present.