asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether a special subsistence allowance was sanctioned to prison officers who were compelled to quit Waterford Prison in August of last year, consequent on the prison being taken by the irregular forces; whether he is aware that payment of this allowance to temporary warders has been refused by the Prisons' Board, and, as the allowance is of a purely special and exceptional nature and not governed by any rate of subsistence allowance, and as the occasion was also exceptional, whether he will now see that the allowance is paid to the temporary warders concerned.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WARDERS' SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE.
DOMHNALL O MUIRGHEASA (for Sean Buitleir)
Certain prison officers were compelled to vacate their quarters in Waterford Prison in August, 1922, on the occasion of the occupation of that prison by Irregulars. Authority was given for the payment to the officers concerned of allowances based, for the first 14 days of absence, on the rates paid to officers detailed for temporary duty in other prisons, and based for the subsequent period of absence on the usual rates of lodging allowance appropriate to the various ranks. This authority did not extend to cover the cases of unmarried temporary warders. These officers hold their appointments on a daily tenure, and on the occasion referred to were exceptionally well treated in being retained in the service, instead of being paid off when the prison was evacuated by the Prison Authorities.