Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 141: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost to date of the security operation in Ballinaboy, County Mayo to include all costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14501/07]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 142: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí deployed to Ballinaboy, County Mayo on a daily basis; the number of gardaí on stand-by on a daily basis in Ballinaboy, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14502/07]

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 143: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost of the security operations carried out by gardaí in Ballinaboy, that is the total cost of gardaí, including their basic salary, overtime, transport, subsistence and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14503/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 to 143, inclusive, together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total cost, including salaries, etc., of the policing arrangements at Ballinaboy, Co. Mayo, as of 17 April, 2007, was approximately €5.4 million. For security and operational reasons, it is not Garda policy and it would not be in the public interest to disclose detailed information of a kind that could potentially have an operational impact on policing arrangements, including numbers of Garda personnel deployed on an ongoing daily basis and/or on stand-by. The Garda Síochána is statutorily required to provide policing services for the State with the aim of preserving public order and protecting life and property. In this regard, Garda resources are allocated according to, inter alia, the assessed threat of breaches of the criminal law, so it is the latter which ultimately determines the associated costs.