§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is contemplated to bring about a reduction of the officials of 1452W the Irish prisons service by dispensing with the services of warders with less than, twenty years' service; if so, is he aware of the hardships such a course would involve upon the married warders with large and young families and, seeing that these men have now given the best years of their life to the prison service in the interests of the State and have looked forward to drawing their full pension, will he take-immediate steps to prevent any such treatment being inflicted on Irish prison warders, especially on married warders; and will he state, if these men's services are not to be dispensed with, in what manner this proposed reduction of staff is to take place and when, and what officers are likely to be affected thereby?
§ Mr. DUKEThere is no proposal to retire warders under twenty years' service, but it has been proposed to make use temporarily of the services of such number of warders as are not at present required for prison work on such other public employment as can be found for them.