Batt O'Keeffe
Question:35 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice the annual cost of providing Garda escorts for money transfer; and the number of such escorts which were provided. [7922/95]
Written Answers. - Provision of Garda Escorts.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the precise annual cost of providing Garda escorts for money transfers and the total number of such escorts are not readily available, because of the multiplicity and varying nature of the Garda escorts involved. I am of the view that to ask the Garda authorities to specially compile them would require the expenditure of Garda time to an extent that could not be warranted.
However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in 1994, the Garda manpower costs incurred on approximately 27,000 escorts of cash movements from banks and post offices to cash holding centres and the Central Bank as well as escorts to post offices of cash for the purpose of social welfare payments was in the region of £1.5 million.