§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, as the Royal Irish Constabulary has been reduced by 751 men and only two officers, and those district inspectors representing 96 men, he will see that a proportionate reduction is made in the number of officers, the cost to the country of a district inspector being five times, and of a county inspector ten times, that of an ordinary constable.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe published Estimate for the Royal Irish Constabulary shows the number in each of the ranks mentioned for which provision is proposed in the next, as compared with the current, financial year. Owing to the statutory rights of county and district inspectors the scheme of reduction cannot have a proportionately large effect on them as on the rank and file.