§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many Grants have been made from the Irish Constabulary Force Fund to men who joined the force since 18th June, 1883; what the aggregate amount of such Grants was; under what statutory authority this money of subscribers was paid to non-subscribers; and whether the Treasury will recoup the fund for the amount so paid?
1627W
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe information asked for in the first two paragraphs of the question is not available and could not be obtained without an examination of the office files dealing with each individual Grant during the past thirty years. All members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, both those in the force before 1883 and those who joined since, are eligible for rewards for good police duty under Section 49 of 6 William IV., cap. 13. Since 1891, when the fund was divided into two branches, such rewards have been paid solely from the reward branch, the income of which is entirely derived from fines and penalties. Any rewards which may have been paid between 1883 and 1891 to members of the force who joined during that period were more than covered by the receipts from fines and penalties. These payments were made under Statute, and the question of recoupment does not therefore arise.