Vol. 546 No. 3
165 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Finance the total to date in 2001 associated with Border security, extra prison accommodation, Garda overtime and Defence Forces expenditure, which are directly or indirectly associated with the outbreak of civil strife in Northern Ireland in 1969 and the activities of the Provisional IRA. [31601/01]
By virtue of the nature of policing, it is not possible to estimate with precision the costs of Garda overtime attributable to activity associated with the outbreak of civil strife in Northern Ireland. However, approximately 1% of the Garda overtime budget was expended on Border security to date this year – excluding expenditure incurred in relation to the control of foot and mouth disease. It is estimated that this will cost some £630,000 in 2001.
Based on 65 subversives being held in prison on 17 October 2001, the approximate cost of holding such prisoners to 17 October 2001 was £7.112 million, 9.03 million.
To date, the Department of Defence has paid £3.3 million 4.19 million, in Border allowances to soldiers serving on the Border.
