Army Escorts.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004

Tuesday, 11 May 2004

Questions (74)

Paul McGrath

Question:

101 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the payments received in 2003 by his Department from financial institutions by way of payment for providing Army escorts for cash in transit; if this money covered the actual costs of providing this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13592/04]

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

To aid the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda Síochána which has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State, is among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces. In this regard, the Defence Forces assist the Garda as required in duties, which include escorting cash deliveries to banks, post offices and other institutions.

The final figures for cash escorts for 2003 are now available and the number of requests for such escorts received by the military authorities from the Garda Síochána for 2002 and 2003 were as follows: 2002, 2,516 and 2003, 2,335.

An annual contribution of €2.86 million is paid by the banks in respect of Army escorts. The contribution from the banks is designed to part cover the total costs to the State of providing cash escorts. An annual contribution is also made to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in respect of the Garda Síochána. In the case of the Defence Forces, taking one year with another, the contribution by the banks has generally covered the non-pay costs of providing such escorts.

The question of the level of contribution is currently under review in my Department having regard to the arrangements, which, I understand, were agreed between the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the financial institutions, to ensure that there is no significant variance in methodology or level of cost recovery. It should be noted that there has been a significant reduction in the demand on the Defence Forces for assistance in aid to the civil power following the reduced security threat arising from the Good Friday Agreement.