Dermot Ahern
Ceist:54 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the cost of the wall proposed to be built around the Taoiseach's house in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11671/95]
Written Answers. - Erection of Security Wall at Taoiseach's Residence.
Immediately on the election of the present Taoiseach, in accordance with precedent, a professional security survey of his residence was carried out by the Garda experts attached to the Crime Prevention Unit of Crime and Security Branch. That Garda survey report recommended that "a concrete wall should be constructed along the road frontage from the outbuildings to the tree line adjacent to the main entrance gates". It recommended that the security wall be built to a height of 2.5m (7 feet).
In the absence of such a security wall, it was the view of the Garda authorities that one additional garda would have been required on a 24 hour basis to patrol the area. The cost of providing this additional garda on a 24 hour basis would be very substantial and would have had the effect of removing five gardaí from operational duty elsewhere on a year round basis.
The Office of Public Works, acting on the advice of Garda Security built a specially constructed security wall at the Taoiseach's residence at a final cost of £12,000.
Before he agreed to the construction of the security wall, the Taoiseach, at his own initiative and request, indicated that he would be making a modest contribution towards the cost and he has done this.