Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 October 2015
107. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence the extent of aid-to-the-civil-power duties for Defence Forces personnel per month in 2015 to date related to guarding United States of America military aircraft at Shannon and Baldonnel airports; the cost and numbers of personnel hours involved; and if he is satisfied with this arrangement. [34756/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.
The number of occasions per month this year that the Defence Forces have been requested to provide ATCP support to An Garda Síochána at Shannon Airport, and the costs incurred which comprise payment of Security Duty Allowance, provision of rations, and fuel, are set out in the following table:
|
Month |
Number of Deployments |
Costs Incurred |
|
January |
24 |
€15,316.59 |
|
February |
34 |
€13,978.76 |
|
March |
31 |
€15,398.63 |
|
April |
21 |
€14,796.42 |
|
May |
29 |
€15,375.19 |
|
June |
30 |
€14,901.90 |
|
July |
22 |
€15,293.15 |
|
August |
21 |
€15,281.43 |
|
September |
25 |
€14,843.30 |
|
Total |
237 |
€135,185.37 |
For security and operational reasons, it would not be appropriate for me to disclose the number of military personnel deployed in response to such requests. Furthermore, the reason for each decision to seek support from the Defence Forces at Shannon Airport is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána.
Unlike Shannon Airport, Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel is a military installation which therefore has provision for its own internal security on an ongoing basis. As such, the question of An Garda Síochána seeking ATCP support at Casement Aerodrome does not arise.
