§ MR. GWYNN (Galway)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if his attention has been called to the fact that the post of Irish interpreter for the Loughrea division of county Galway has been vacant since October last, owing to the fact that the salary of £10 offered is insufficient even to defray the necessary expenses of attendance at the quarter sessions in four towns, and that, under the Local Government Act, no allowance for expenses can be made by the sheriff or county council; and if he will take steps to remove this difficulty, which hampers the administration of justice for native Irish speakers of the district.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) My attention has been called to this matter. Under the existing law the annual amount which the county council may provide for the payment of an interpreter at quarter sessions is limited to £30. In the case of county Galway this amount is divisible into three sums of £10, payable in respect of different divisions of the county, and I am informed that some difficulty exists in obtaining an 1777 interpreter at this rate in one part of the county. I cannot undertake to introduce special legislation with the object of enabling the county council to increase the payments to interpreters, but the matter will receive consideration in the event of legislation being introduced to amend the Local Government Acts.