Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary the annual amount of the barrack rent paid respectively by the head constable and by the other constables stationed at the Royal Irish Constabulary Barrack, Parliament Street, Kilkenny; whether he can state the number of rooms assigned to the head constable and to the other constables in respect of the rent paid by them; whether the men at this station are compelled to have their food cooked, to take their meals, and perform the domestic offices in a cellar; whether he can state what accommodation was enjoyed by the present head constable's predecessor and what were the numbers of the families of the present and former head constables; and under what circumstances the recent resignation and emigration of three constables from this station was brought about?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Inspector-General informs me that £2 12s. per annum is deducted from the pay of the head and other1018W constables at this station towards barrack rent. The head constable occupies a sitting-room, bedroom and kitchen, and the seven constables have a kitchen, dayroom, messroom, and four bedrooms. They are not compelled to have their food cooked, and to take their meals in a cellar, as stated. The present head constable's predecessor had a kitchen, sitting-room and two bedrooms, and his family consisted of eight. The present head constable's family consists of four. Only one constable resigned from this station, and the reason assigned was to better his position.