§ MR. VINCENT KENNEDY (Cavan, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will say what is the population of Dowra, county Cavan; what is the present strength of the police force stationed there; how many of these are extra police; what will the extra tax be per month; will he say why the extra police are stationed in Dowra, and whether their services are required in county Cavan; have any offences against the person been recently reported; and will he give the details of reports which, it is alleged, warrant the detention of extra police in Dowra.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Dowra police district comprises thirty-nine townlands in county Cavan and fifty-one in county Leitrim. The population of the county Cavan portion of the district is 1,525. The present strength of the police force at Dowra is twelve men, of whom six are for duty in the County Cavan portion of the district. Of these six, three are extra police, the charge upon local authorities for which will be at the rate of £8 12s. 4d. a month. No offence against the person has recently taken place in the Cavan part of the district, but a case of arson and several cases of boycotting, intimidation, and threatening notices have occurred, and these, in the opinion of the responsible police authorities, have necessitated the temporary strengthening of the police force.