§ MR. HALPINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether, taking the fact of the peaceful state of the county of Clare into consideration, he will give instructions to have the Royal Irish Constabulary force in the county reduced, in number.
MR. BRYCEAt the triennial redistribution of the Royal Irish Constabulary in May last, the free force of county Clare was reduced by fifty-two men, as the result of the peaceful state of the county. The established force of the county is now 367 sergeants and constables, and this, in the opinion of the police authorities, is the lowest number with which it can at present be policed. I need hardly say that the possibility of reducing the police force in the most tranquil parts of the country will continue to engage the attention of the Irish Government.