§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether as the age limit was extended in July 1900 from forty-two to forty-five years for junior or P head constables, Royal Irish Constabulary, there is any reason why the limit for promotion of senior head constables to district inspectorships should not be extended from forty-eight to fifty years, especially having regard to the recent recommendation of the Departmental Committees that no future member of the force should be allowed to retire until at least fifty years of age, and that the minimum age of recruits should be raised to twenty-one.
(Answer.) The question of the age limit for promotion of head constables to the rank of district inspector has received careful consideration. The office of district inspector is essentially one to be filled by an active man; and since he is required to retire at the age of sixty, it has been held that the limit of forty-eight, fixed in the case of senior head constables, could not, in the best interests 1100 of the service, be exceeded. The recommendation of the Committee, referred to at the end of the Question, was made with the view of lessening the existing pension charge. Legislation would be necessary to fix the age for retirement at fifty for all members of the force below the rank of district inspector; but, even if such a limit were fixed, I do not think it would afford sufficient ground for increasing as suggested the present age limit of senior head constables who are eligible for promotion to the higher rank. Head constables eligible for promotion are divided into two classes: first, those on the "P" list, whose age must not exceed forty-five. They are required to undergo a competitive examination, by a Board of Officers, in police duties, etc., and also a literary examination which is conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners. The second class consists of head constables under forty-eight years of age. They merely undergo a test examination, and are selected for the purpose. One-fourth of the vacancies in the rank of district inspector goes to each class, i.e., head constables receive half the number of vacancies.—(Irish Office.)