§ Mr. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will give the number of county and district inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary in Ireland, the total salary, allowances, cost of clerks, etc., of the county inspectors; the total salary, allowances, cost of clerks, etc., of the districts; the work which each county inspector has to perform, the number of stations in each county and district inspector's district; whether any steps have been or will be taken for the reduction of the number of those officers, the rearrangement of districts, the reduction of salaries and expenses.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) According to the estimates for the current year, the amount of salary and allowances of county inspectors is £23,261, and of their clerks £6,212, making a total of £29,473. The similar provision for district inspectors is £70,772, and for their clerks £1,461, making a total of £72,233. The duties of county inspectors are too numerous 147 to be stated in detail in reply to a question, but it may be said in general terms that each county inspector is responsible for the prevention of crime, the detection of criminals, and the general preservation of the peace, and for the discipline of the force in his county. The average number of stations in each county is thirty-eight, and the average number in each district inspector's district is seven. The existing statutory law requires that there should be a county inspector for each county. Some reduction has already been made in recent years in the number of district inspectors, and the necessity of further reductions is and will be considered upon each occasion on which opportunity arises.