Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocated to the Garda witness protection programme for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17381/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The budget allocated to the Witness Security Programme as reflected in the Appropriation Accounts for the years in question is set out in the table below.

The Deputy will be aware that the Witness Security Programme is a vital part of the Garda response to tackling gangland crime and terrorism and has been important in securing convictions in a number of cases. For obvious reasons, it is not the practice to comment on the detail of its operation.