Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Defence the estimated costs to him for Defence Forces personnel on security duty at Shannon Airport for 2009 and 2010, including security duty allowances, rations, fuel and all other costs incurred. [19651/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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An Garda Síochána have the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Amongst the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2000) is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) - meaning in practice to assist, when requested, An Garda Síochána. Such duties can include the protection and guarding of vital installations and the provision of certain security escorts etc.

The Gardaí undertake threat assessments for Shannon Airport on an ongoing basis and in 2003 requested the Defence Forces to provide assistance in securing the Airport. Liaison between the Gardaí and the Defence Forces in this regard is continuing. The items taken into consideration when calculating the costs incurred as a result of the Defence Forces providing ATCP at Shannon Airport are Security Duty Allowances, rations and fuel. The following table sets out the total costs incurred for the two periods in question.

These costs are met from the Defence Vote.