§ MR. LONSDALEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, whether his attention has been called to the proceedings of the Galway County Council in reference to the extra police tax levied in that county; whether he will state the number of police in respect of which the tax has been levied, the districts in which the police have been located, and the reason for strengthening the number of the force in each case; and whether the extra police, or any portion of them, are still retained in the districts in question.
MR. BRYCEThe County Council of Galway have raised certain objections to paying for the expenses of extra police drafted into the county, and have applied for particulars in connection with the accounts furnished for the purpose of checking their accuracy. As to the numbers of the extra police serving in county Galway at different times since 1st March, 1905. I beg to refer the hon. Member to my Answers to the Questions of the right hon. Member for South Dublin on 2nd November, to which give full particulars. The extra police for which charges have been made were located in the districts of Athenry, Ballinasloe, Dunmore, Galway, Gort, Loughrea, Portumna, and Tuam, and the main reason for the services of these police was the state of feeling arising out of the agitation against the grazing system. As the hon. Member is probably aware, these extra police were sent to the county while the late Government were in office. The only extra force at present serving in the county consists of twenty-five men of the
† See (4) Debates elxiii.,1447–9.966 reserve force who were sent to the Athenry district on 12th October last.