§ 30. Mr. PATRICK MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, although Major Price, since his appointment as county inspector of Carlow has never performed any of his duties as county inspector, he still continues to receive the pay of £370 per annum attached to that office, together with the usual allowances for lodging and servant; if he is aware that Major Price's duties as county inspector have been performed by the county inspector of Wicklow, and whether the county inspector for Wicklow has been able to perform satisfactorily the work of both counties; if he is aware that Major Price has received nearly £700 out of military funds as a subsistence allowance for military duties; and whether, taking into consideration this payment from military funds, he will, in the interests of public economy, take steps to provide that Major Price's salary of an 1598 office he has never filled, and allowances for a servant he has never employed, should be discontinued?
§ Mr. DUKEOn the outbreak of the War Major Price, who was then a district inspector in the Royal Irish Constabulary, was appointed Intelligence Officer to the Irish Command Headquarters, Dublin, as a temporary arrangement for the period of the War, He draws his pay as a constabulary officer, and is paid his subsistence allowances from military funds. He receives no Army pay. He was promoted to the rank of county inspector in May, 1915, and allocated to the county Carlow, but owing to his duties as Intelligence Officer he cannot take charge of the county Carlow. Pending his release from military duties, the supervision of the counties of Carlow and Wicklow has been entrusted to the county inspector located at Wicklow, who receives the ordinary rate of pay only, and who has carried out the duties satisfactorily. Major Price's pay as county inspector is at present £370, with the usual allowance for lodging and servant. Since his-appointment as Intelligence Officer, he has received £618 as subsistence allowance from military funds. As he draws no pay from the Army, it is obvious that his constabulary pay could not be discontinued.
§ Mr. MEEHANDoes he draw an allowance for a servant in his constabulary pay, and is it not a fact that he has no servant?
§ Mr. DUKEI could not answer that without notice. I have satisfied myself so far as inquiries go up to the present that he does not draw an overlapping allowance. He is not drawing an allowance which he ought not to draw under the circumstances.
§ Mr. MEEHANDoes the county inspector of Wicklow receive any excess allowance for performing the duties of county inspector of Carlow?