The Defence Forces receive an extensive number of requests each year from individuals, organisations and from Government Departments and Agencies to deploy personnel to civilian events. These events range from a local charity organisation, where a handful of personnel might provide a Military display, to a national event such as the annual National Day of Commemoration where the Defence Forces have a key ceremonial role. Given the number and scale of these requests, it would not be feasible to capture the details sought in respect of every occasion where Defence Forces personnel were deployed for civilian events. I have however detailed the personnel numbers involved in some of the higher profile events in the tabular statement below.
Details in relation to the costs of these deployments are not recorded as no significant personnel costs arise as a result of the Defence forces' participation in these events. The only costs that may arise are in relation to subsistence and transport/fuel costs. These are not captured for every individual event but should the Deputy identify a particular event(s) that is of interest to him, I will request my Department to calculate the costs that may have been incurred and I will write to the Deputy directly.
Personnel Deployed to Key Civilian Events
Event
|
2011
|
2012
|
1916 Easter Sunday Ceremony
|
409
|
409
|
The National Day of Commemoration
|
357
|
340
|
Annual Famine Commemoration
|
164
|
119
|