Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality 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, including those on any reserve panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14762/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are twenty-six (26) Ministerial Drivers assigned to the Ministerial Pool and Ministerial Relief Pool.

Garda drivers are assigned to An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, the Chief Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Garda drivers may also be assigned to former Taoisigh and Presidents on specific State occasions. There are no Garda drivers assigned to former Ministers.

The Deputy will appreciate that An Garda Síochána does not comment on matters of security, including matters pertaining to the safety, security and welfare of protected persons.

Responsibility for the allocation of personnel rests with the Garda Commissioner in conjunction with his senior management team.