Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount it is costing the Exchequer to supply the security measures currently in place for the facilitation of the Smithfield horse fair, Dublin, in terms of Garda officials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30148/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The event referred to by the Deputy takes place on the first Sunday of every month, with the events in March and September attracting the largest amount of patrons, including overseas visitors.

The Garda authorities advise me that establishing the exact cost associated with policing the event would take a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources. They estimate that the approximate cost for policing the Smithfield Fair each month is €4,000 except for the months of March and September where, due to an increase in patrons attending, the approximate cost for policing the Smithfield Fair is estimated at €7,500.

I am further advised that local Garda management are satisfied there are sufficient Gardaí deployed on the first Sunday each month to police the event.