§ MR. CULLINAN (Tipperary S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that under the Local Government Act county councils are compelled to pay high rent for premises used for the holding of Petty Session Courts in the smaller towns; that the said Courts, which are held generally once in each month, last not more than one or two hours, and the premises are idle in the meantime; whether county councils., while willing to take ample precautions for the upkeep and proper protection of these premises, cannot use them for 867 such purposes as the needs of the ratepayers require; and, if so, will he explain why this cannot be done.
§ MR. BIRRELLIt is the fact that county councils are required by law to pay the rents of court and sessions houses. Under Section 72 (3) of the Local Government Act county councils may use any courthouse or sessions house for the purpose of the execution of their duties, when the building is not required for the administration of justice. The control of petty sessions houses is vested in the Justices, with whom it rests to give the necessary permission to the county council to use the sessions house for the execution of their duties. In some cases, however, the sessions house is not the property of the county, but is held under a letting which merely covers the use of the premises for the holding of petty sessions. In such cases the control of the Justices over the sessions houses is limited to the days on which petty sessions are held, and it follows that the county council cannot enjoy the use of such sessions houses.
§ MR. CULLINANasked if the county councils in Ireland generally had not protested against this indignity put upon them by local magistrates and pettifogging sub-sheriffs.