§ Mr. HAYDENasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the County Council of Roscommon have made repeated protests against the amounts charged in the constabulary accounts for the removal of prisoners, for which recoupment has been obtained from the ratepayers of the county, and that as recent instances the county council have drawn attention to the charge of £15 for a brake and two cars for the conveyance of prisoners from Ballygill to Ballinasloe, a distance of 4½ miles, £2 for two cars from Kilbarry to Strokestown, a distance of 13 miles, and for subsistence and cycling allowance to 13 policemen on the same occasion amounting to £5 2s. 2d.; and whether there is any method of putting a check upon the Royal Irish Constabulary in regard to matters of this kind?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am aware that the Roscommon County Council have expressed dissatisfaction with the charges in the constabulary claims furnished to them. It has not been possible in the time available to make inquiry as to the particular items of expenditure referred to in the question, but the general explanation of the high charges for car hire in county Roscommon is that, owing to the unpopularity of the duty, car-owners are deterred from letting out their vehicles to the police at lower prices. The police are not in fault, and would be glad to have these charges reduced to their normal level.
§ Mr. HAYDENWill the right hon. Gentleman be prepared with an answer on Monday?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI hope so.