Vol. 536 No. 3
215 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of extra gardaí allocated to Border duty to deal with the foot and mouth crisis; the total amount of payments made to gardaí for extra duties involved; and the type of payments made. [14162/01]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a total of 703 members, all ranks, from Garda divisions other than Border divisions have been allocated to Border duty to deal with the foot and mouth crisis. I should add that this number would have varied from time to time in the light of operational requirements and also excludes members who were assigned to investigations arising from the foot and mouth crisis.
Of the 703 members referred to above, a total of 269 members have returned to normal duties and 434 have remained on Border duty to deal with the foot and mouth crisis. Again, these figures do not include Garda personnel permanently allocated to Border divisions – all of whom have a responsibility, inter alia, to deal with the foot and mouth crisis – or members assigned to investigations arising from the foot and mouth crisis.
I am also informed by the Garda authorities that the total expenditure incurred by the Garda Síochána in policing the foot and mouth disease outbreak for the 11 week period ending 6 May 2001 is approximately £18.1 million, of which £17.9 million was paid to Garda members in respect of overtime and subsistence allowances, etc.
