Written answers
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Department of Defence
Defence Forces Operations
8:00 pm
Peter Kelly (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of call-outs made by the bomb disposal unit in the greater Dublin area, the Munster area, the Connaught-Ulster area and the Leinster area in 2008 and to date in 2009; the number of these that turned out to be a hoax; if there has been an increase in the number of hoax call-outs; the cost associated with all EOD call-outs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17745/09]
Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The information sought by the Deputy is not compiled in the manner requested. Each Brigade of the Defence Forces records information on calls out in its own area. The total number of calls out responded to by each Brigade for 2008 and to the period ended 24 April 2009 is set out in the following table:
| Brigade | 2008 | 2009(as at 24/04/09) |
| East | 111 | 34 |
| South | 37 | 4 |
| West | 20 | 10 |
| DFTC (Curragh) | 12 | 5 |
| Total | 180 | 53 |
The following table indicates the total number of hoaxes as a percentage of total calls out for the period 2006 â 2009 (24th April 2009)
| Year | Total number of calls out | Number of hoaxes | Hoaxes as percentage of total calls out |
| 2006 | 101 | 8 | 8% |
| 2007 | 98 | 11 | 11% |
| 2008 | 180 | 58 | 32% |
| 2009 (24th April 2009) | 53 | 19 | 36% |
The cost of each individual call out is not recorded separately but costs include: the salary and allowances of the team (i.e. one officer, one NCO and one driver), fuel for the distance travelled by the vehicle to and from the location of the incident and any ordnance used to dispose of the device. The Defence Forces EOD team is required to treat all suspect devices as real until the EOD Officer confirms the nature of the suspect device. The determination as to whether a suspect device is viable or hoax can only be made following detailed inspection by the EOD Officer.
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