§ MR. FLAVINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state whether county surveyors and deputy county surveyors are compelled under the Local Government (Ireland) Act to devote their whole time to the service and work of the county councils in Ireland; and, whether the office of county surveyor and deputy county surveyor are pensionable offices or otherwise.
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURExisting county and assistant county surveyors hold their office on the same terms and conditions as heretofore. County councils cannot prohibit them from undertaking private practice if they are able to do so without neglecting the duties of their office. I understand, however, that since the passing of the Local Government 484 Act, 1898, the surveyors have little or no time for private practice owing to their increased duties. In the case of new appointments there would be nothing to prevent councils from stipulating that the persons appointed should devote their entire time to their duties. The offices of county surveyor and assistant surveyor are pensionable, the former under 38 and 39 Vict., c. 56, and the latter under Section 83, Sub-section 11, of the Act of 1898. But no surveyor appointed after the passing of the Act of 1875 can obtain a superannuation allowance unless he has given his whole time to the service of the county, and assistant surveyors must also devote their whole time to the service of the county to qualify for superannuation allowance.