§ Mr. REDDYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he would state how many recruits of the Special Reserve were undergoing recruits' drill at the twelve extra Special Reserve depots in Ireland on the 30th September, 1910, and 31st March, 1911, respectively, and the number of recruits on these dates at each of the extra Special Reserve depots?
§ Colonel SEELYThe numbers of recruits of Special Reserve undergoing recruits' drill at the depots were as follows:—There were no other recruits present at the depots:—
30–10–1910. 31–3–1911 4th Bn. Inniskilling Fusiliers 15 39 4th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles 9 30 5th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles 4 78 4th Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers 47 51 4th Bn. Dublin Fusiliers 3 111 5th Bn. Dublin Fusiliers — 115 4th Bn. Royal Irish Regiment. 20 35 4th Bn. Leinster Regiment 16 35 5th Bn. Leinster Regiment 27 76 4th Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers 93 82 5th Bn. Royal Munster Fusiliers 32 53 4th Bn. Connaught Rangers 6 64 272 769
§ Mr. REDDYasked whether at the extra Special Reserve depots at Dublin and Downpatrick, as well as other depots, no recruits undergo drill for six months of the year, while the full establishment of regular officers is maintained during that period; and, if so, what do the officers occupy their time at during the period?
§ Colonel SEELYThe conditions to which attention is drawn are similar to those which formerly existed in the case of certain militia battalions. In certain extra reserve battalions local conditions, such as the requirements of labour and agriculture, make it desirable that the training of the recruits should not, except in a few individual cases, be carried on during certain seasons of the year, and in these cases the period during which the recruits are not under training may extend to six months. This was the case with the depots referred to. Under the1934W arrangements prescribed by Special Army Order of 27th February, 1911, the regular officers with an extra reserve battalion will in future consist of an adjutant and quartermaster only, as the services of the other regular officers are not required for ordinary duties at a depot.