§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of each of the following grades of civil officials in the Engineering Department of the Post Office in Ireland to be replaced in the event of the proposed transfer of the military from England to Ireland, viz.: engineers (all classes), clerks, inspectors, mechanics, linemen, foremen, sub-foremen, skilled and unskilled labourers; and also the total amount paid in salaries, wages, and allowances to all these classes during the past twelve months.
I beg also to ask the Postmaster-General whether it is the intention to transfer the military to the northern engineering district of Ireland and upon the same lines as at present suggested for the southern engineering district of Ireland; and will he explain in what particulars the telegraphic and telephonic engineering work in Ireland would be more suitable for military training purposes, and in what respect does the work differ from that at present done in the south of England.
I beg further to ask the Postmaster-General whether, in the event of the proposed transfer of the Royal Engineers into the southern district of Ireland, the telegraph mechanics who are now employed in the southern districts will be affected by the proposed change; and, if so, will he take steps to secure them employment in some other centre in Ireland.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI will answer these throe Questions together. If the Royal Engineers are transferred to the southern district of Ireland the following numbers of civilian officers will be replaced:—1 assisting superintending engineer, 2 first class engineers, 1 second class engineer, 3 sub engineers, 13 clerks, 3 inspectors, 8 mechanics, 31 linemen. For many of these, except the mechanics, places will be available in the northern district of Ireland, which will continue to be staffed by civilian engineers. Places will be found for the others else-whore. In the opinion of the War Office 1407 the work in Ireland is more suitable for the training of the Royal Engineers because it has more resemblance to that which military engineers might be called upon to perform in the field, and because it provides training in railway block signalling, etc., which cannot be obtained in England. The total amount paid in wages, salaries, etc., in the southern district of Ireland in the past twelve months was £24,823.
§ MR. NANNETTIWill not this introduction of the military element into Ireland prevent young and intelligent students from competing for posts in the Civil Service?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI should like notice of that Question, but it is a matter rather for the War Office as to the particular district most suitable for training Royal Engineers.