Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 3

Written Answers - Border Patrols.

Bernard Allen

Question:

134 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the number of extra Army personnel allocated to Border duty during the recent foot and mouth disease crisis; the amount paid by way of extra payments; and the type of payments made. [14172/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

As I indicated to the House on 15 May 2001, the number of Defence Forces personnel involved in rendering assistance to the gardaí and to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development arising from the foot and mouth crisis is as follows:–

(i)23 February 2001 to 1 March 2001	40 personnel per day
(ii)2 March 2001 to 21 March 2001	160 personnel per day
(iii)22 March 2001 to 18 April 2001	250 personnel per day
(iv)19 April 2001 to present	160 personnel per day

The figures at (iii) and (iv) above include an additional 150 and 62 personnel, respectively, deployed to the Border from non-Border units. In relation to the 62 personnel, the period of deployment was from 19 April 2001 to 9 May 2001.

Permanent Defence Force personnel serving in Border units are in receipt of a Border duty allowance of £60.82 per week in the case of officers and £54.81 per week in the case of non-commissioned officers and privates. All personnel who are engaged on Border duties arising from the foot and mouth operation will be eligible to be paid Border duty allowance in addition to their normal regimental pay and military service allowance. Following successful negotiations between officials from my Department, the Department of Finance and the military representative associations, I announced on 28 March 2001 that agreement has been reached on the payment of an allowance of £35 per 12 hour duty to all members of the Defence Forces who are directly involved in the foot and mouth operation. This allowance is in addition to the payment of Border duty allowance which is paid to military personnel serving in Border areas. As I indicated to the House on 15 May 2001, the overall estimated cost of allowances to date is £520,000.