Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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344. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the costs, including overtime, associated with providing policing assistance or coverage for the installation of water metering; if any of the costs will be recovered from Irish Water; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40396/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote and may direct members of An Garda Síochána, in compliance with the statutory functions laid down under section 7 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, to attend scenes of protest as required in order to prevent a breach of the peace.

In that context I am informed by the Garda authorities that they do not record costs associated with policing protests at scenes of water meter installations at the level of detail required to separate them from other similar costs. Accordingly, the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and would require a disproportionate use of Garda resources to collate.

I am further informed that Irish Water are not contributing financially towards the costs incurred by An Garda Síochána in policing protests in respect of the installation of water meters.