Cecilia Keaveney
Question:36 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice the annual cost of making provisions for Garda escorts for money transfers; and the number of such escorts. [21788/96]
Written Answers. - Garda Escorts.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the precise number and annual cost of all Garda escorts of cash in transit are not available because of the multiplicity and varying nature of those escorts. However, the Garda authorities estimate that in 1995 the Garda manpower costs associated with about 34,000 Garda — including Garda/Army — cash escorts between the banks, post offices, cash holding centres and the Central Bank, including escorts to post offices for the purpose of conveying cash required to make social welfare payments, was in the order of £2.5 million. This estimate does not cover the cost of Army involvement in escorts or the associated Garda transport costs.
A contribution of £3 million was received by the Exchequer from the associated banks in 1995 in respect of security costs incurred by the Garda Síochána and Defence Forces and £750,000 of that contribution was credited to the Garda Síochána Vote. The Minister for Finance made provision in this year's budget for a similar contribution from the associated banks in the current year.