Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of garda personnel engaged in providing driver and security services to the members of the Government, members of the Judiciary; former Taoisigh or former Government Ministers; if he has plans to review the numbers involved with a view to transferring some of these Garda officers to front line duties fighting crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46177/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are 56 members of An Garda Síochána permanently assigned duties as Garda Protection Officers to 27 designated persons including current Office holders and former Taoisigh. Included in the duties of the Protection Officer is a requirement to drive the Protected Person. There are no protection officers assigned to former Ministers.

Responsibility for the allocation of personnel rests with the Garda Commissioner, in conjunction with his senior management team. Resource levels are constantly monitored, in conjunction with crime trends and other demands made on An Garda Síochána, and are kept under review.