§ MR. REDDY (King's County, Birr)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will say what is the population of Shinrone, a village in King's County; whether it is a police district headquarters; can he say how many constables, in addition to the district inspector and head constable, are stationed there; whether, seeing that the salary of the head constable is £104 per annum with apartments, and that his time is occupied in doing the work of the district inspector, who merely signs Returns prepared for him, he will say what stops, if any, he proposes to take to abolish or bring within reasonable limits the unnecessary office of district inspector; and what is the salary of a district inspector, cost of uniform, and travelling allowances.
MR. BEYCEI am informed that Shinrone has a population of about 350. It is a constabulary district headquarters composed of four sub-districts. The nominal strength of the station is one sergeant and six constables, in addition to the district inspector and head constable. The salary of the head constable is £91 per annum, with apartments. It is, I am informed, not the case that the head constable does the work of the district inspector; each officer has his own proper work. Steps are being taken to abolish district headquarters which are no longer necessary. Nino have been abolished during the past three years, and further reductions are under consideration. The salary of a district inspector ranges from £125 to £300 per annum. A district inspector also receives allowances for forage, servant, and lodging, amounting to about £130 per annum. Ho provides his own uniform, and receives no allowance for travelling within his district.