Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2004
23 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence the security and financial arrangements between the Army and the banks and other financial institutions; and if he has proposals to review these arrangements. [9218/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe roles of the Defence Forces as assigned by Government are set out in the White Paper on Defence, which was published in February 2000. 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 — is among the assigned roles. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Garda as required in duties, which include cash escorts. Cash escorts include deliveries to banks, post offices and other institutions.
The number of requests for cash escorts received by the military authorities from the Garda Síochána for 2002 and 2003 were 2,516 in 2002 and 2,298 in 2003. The financial arrangements involve a payment of €2.86 million by the banks in respect of Army escorts. The costs of these escorts are reviewed annually. The current contribution covers the marginal additional cost of providing escorts in terms of transport and allowances. I have recently requested my officials to review the current arrangements 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.
