§ Mr. P. WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the amount of lodging allowance given to married members of the Royal Irish Constabulary; whether it is uniform for all Ireland; and whether he will consider the advisability and justice of increasing it in counties like Meath and Dublin, where suitable houses are scarce and consequently dear?
§ Mr. DUKEMarried men of the Royal Irish Constabulary whose families are not accommodated in barracks receive generally a lodging allowance of 2s. a week and are exempt from the deduction of Is. a week which is made from the pay of constables accommodated in barracks. A further Is. a week is granted by way of lodging allowance to married men in Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Londonderry. Waterford and the depot in Dublin. The scale of allowance was reviewed as recently as 1914 by a Committee of Inquiry, who did not feel justified in recommending any increase. I am looking into the matter.