HC Deb 05 May 1909 vol 4 cc1173-5W
Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will give a Return of the free constabulary force allotted to each county in Ireland in the years 1903 and 1908 respectively; the total strength and cost of the force in each of the years named; and the amount charged in each year on the Consolidated Fund and on local rates respectively?

Mr. BIRRELL

presented the following Return, showing the free constabulary force allotted to each county in Ireland in 1903 and 1908:—

Counties, etc. Free Force (Sergeants and Constables) for 1902–3. Free Force (Sergeants and Constables) for 1907–3.
Antrim … 269 241
Armagh … 191 185
Carlow … 99 83
Cavan … 219 169
Clare … 421 367
Cork, E. R. … 478 453
Cork, W. R. … 337 248
Donegal … 462 348
Down … 273 253
Dublin … 200 164
Fermanagh … 157 130
Galway, E. R. … 311 313
Galway, W. R. … 349 303
Kerry … 501 361
Kildare … 168 142
Kilkenny … 262 225
King's … 202 164
Leitrim … 192 147
Limerick … 378 303
Londonderry … 141 122
Longford … 134 110
Louth … 160 126
Mayo … 515 403
Meath … 248 172
Monaghan … 146 123
Queen's … 164 131
Roscommon … 307 256
Sligo … 211 206
Tipperary, N. R. … 225 203
Tipperary, S. R. … 287 249
Tyrone … 234 222
Waterford … 198 174
Westmeath … 237 190
Wexford … 243 192
Wicklow … 178 152
Cities.
Belfast … 500 500
Cork … 175 175
Limerick … 85 85
Londonderry … 76 90
Waterford … 73 73
Totals … 10,006 8,553
The average total strength of sergeants and constables was 10,668 during 1902–3 and 9,657 during 1907–8. The total cost of the force in 1902–3 was £1,380,318, of which £18,899 was charged to the counties for extra police, and the total cost in 1907–8 was £1,343,529, of which £24,310 was charged to the counties, the balance in each case being charged to Imperial funds.

Mr. PATRICK WHITE

asked the Chief Secretary whether, when a portion of the free constabulary force allotted to one county is drafted into another county for temporary duty it is discretionary with the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to limit the charge on the county into which they are drafted to the cost of transferring the men?

Mr. BIRRELL

I am informed by the constabulary authorities that when a charge is made under section 6 of the Constabulary (Ireland) Act, 1848, for the services in any county of extra men drafted into it from the free force of another county, that charge must be at the rate of £34 9s. 3d. per annum, being a moiety of the rate fixed under section 5 of the Constabulary (Ireland) Act, 1874.