§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, if, having regard to the physical and mental strain of warders in the Irish prisons service owing to the monotonous nature of their duties, he would consider the advisability of having the summer time table altered so as to lessen the number of hours' duty per day; and if he will inquire if there was general discontent among the warders in the Irish prisons service at the passing over of men of long service in connection with recent appointments and promotions; and if it is the custom that court and escort duty is given exclusively to one officer in the larger prisons in Ireland instead of being given to all equally qualified officers in turn.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I am informed by the General Prisons Board that it would not be possible to lessen the number of hours of duty per day for prison warders, either in winter or summer, without a considerable increase of 1609 staff, There is, I am informed, no general discontent among the warders at the passing over of men of long service, although individuals are, no doubt, sometimes disappointed. It is not the custom that court and escort duty is given exclusively to one officer in the larger prisons in Ireland, nor, on the other hand, is such duty assigned to all equally qualified officers in turn. It is a question for the governor to decide in each instance who is the most suitable officer to send on such duty, which does not involve either relaxation or emolument.