Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 July 2008
92 Deputy Michael Mulcahy asked the Minister for Defence the amount paid by the banks for the Army cash-in-transit service in each of the years 2004 to 2007 inclusive; the number of Army cash escort duties performed in 2007 and to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25540/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom 1995 to 2004 an annual contribution of €2.86m was paid by the banks in respect of Army escorts. The contribution from the banks was designed to part-cover the total costs to the State of providing cash escorts.
The agreement which I signed with the IBF on 11 May, 2005 provides that the banks will pay the total actual costs incurred by the Defence Forces in the provision of cash escorts for the banks. Under the agreement, which is for a 5 year period, the banks are charged for their proportion of the total escorts provided i.e. approx. 78%. The remainder relates to post office escorts which are not subject to charge as they come under State expenditure.
Costs in respect of each 12 month period to end-December, are paid the following year, with payment due on or before the 1st June. This is to allow for the compilation of returns from the brigades and allocation of costs following the year-end.
The total amount paid by the banks for the years 2005 to 2007 inclusive was:
2005 — €6.03m
2006 — €6.47m
2007 — €7.34m
The total number of cash escorts during 2007 was 2,291. The total to the end of May in 2008 is 916.
