Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the witness protection programme; the number of persons who have been received into the programme in each of the past ten years; the cost of running the programme for each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16770/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The witness security programme was established in 1997, in response to the activities of organised criminal gangs, to facilitate people who are prepared to give evidence against alleged offenders. The programme continues to operate under the direct control and administration of the Garda Commissioner. It is not the practice and it would be contrary to the public interest to comment on specific details of the operation of the programme, including the numbers admitted to it. The cost of the programme was £41,608, or €52,831, in 1998; £86,373, or €109,671, in 1999; £149,704, or €190,085, in 2000; £361,955, or €459,588 in 2001; €829,898 in 2002; €1,183,482 in 2003; and €1,097,000 in 2004. The figure for 2004 relates to the allocated amount, as the actual expenditure figure is not yet available.