Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 414: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amounts awarded by the Croke Park authorities for Garda cover for the 2006 All Ireland football semi-final; the All Ireland football final; the All Ireland hurling final; the cost of Garda cover in each case for inside the Croke Park Stadium and the cordon area outside the Stadium and the areas beyond the cordon area. [29836/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy is aware over the years numerous organisations have requested and have been given the assistance of Gardaí on a non-public duty basis. Traditionally, Gardaí have been made available for the performance of such duties and the State has charged for their services. This work is done by members of the Force who would otherwise be off duty. At present, organisers of events pay for the cost of non-public duties performed by Gardaí on duty inside the event location (e.g. at sporting events, major G.A.A. or soccer matches, rock concerts etc.). The cost of policing duties performed by Gardaí outside of the event location, such as traffic control, beat patrols and other policing duties which would be additional to those normally performed at the location are not paid for by the organisers of the event and fall to be paid from public funds. The Garda authorities point out that in many cases, it is difficult to define where public duty ends and where non-public duty liability of the organisations begins but that the safety of the public must be the ultimate consideration.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the following amounts have been invoiced by the Garda Síochána to the GAA in respect of non-public duty carried out by members at Croke Park:

2006 All Ireland Football Semi-Finals

Kerry v Cork — €64,077.19

Dublin v Mayo — €62,209.35

2006 All Ireland Football Final

Kerry v Mayo — €66,550.98

2006 All Ireland Hurling Final

Kilkenny v Cork — €53,691.29.

Garda management state that costs in respect of duty carried out by members outside of the stadium are not currently available.