Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

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 internal security of the State, is among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces. In this regard, the Defence Forces assist the Garda as required in duties which include escorting cash deliveries to banks, post offices and other institutions.

An annual contribution of €2.86 million is paid by the banks in respect of Army escorts. This figure was set by the Department of Finance in the 1995 budget and has not been altered since. The contribution from the banks was designed to part-cover the total costs to the State of providing cash escorts. At that time, the contribution covered approximately 72% of the total cost arising to the Defence Forces, which includes pay and allowances. Based on annual costings by my Department, the relative level of the contribution has fallen in real terms over the years to the situation where it now only covers 43% of total costs.

Since taking over as Minister for Defence, I have had a number of discussions with the Irish Bankers Federation on this matter, with a view to increasing the level of contribution by the banks in respect of the costs incurred by my Department in the provision of cash escorts. While the ongoing discussions are difficult and the banks put their position robustly, the banks and the IBF have been positive and constructive in their dealings with me and I welcome this.

My most recent meeting with them was on Wednesday last, 13 April, and we continue to make progress. The Irish Bankers Federation will shortly revert to my Department following further discussions with its members. It is my hope that my officials and officials of the IBF will then be in a position to complete a draft memorandum of understanding between the Department of Defence and the IBF in regard to the financial aspects of the Defence Forces' involvement in cash escorts.

The total cost in respect of the provision by the Defence Forces of assistance to the Garda Síochána in protecting movements of cash in 2003, the latest year for which figures have been finalised, was in excess of €6.6 million, including pay, allowances, transport and aerial surveillance. This related to 2,335 escorts, approximately 80% of which covered deliveries to banks.

For the first nine months of 2004, approximately 1,825 escorts took place. In any given month, approximately 1,592 Army man-days are expended on these escorts.

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