§ MR. WALTER LONG (Dublin, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what was the authorised strength of the Royal Irish Constabulary on the 1st December, 1905, and 1st March, 1908, respectively.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLThe authorised strength of the force on 1st December, 1905, was 9,436, but on the following day authority was given to increase the force by fifty men. Since then, the number has been further increased by 414 men, making the total 9,900, at which figure it stood on 1st March, 1908.