Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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95. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of the establishment of the horse-mounted unit in An Garda Síochána; the annual running costs of this unit; and the number of persons deployed and the purpose of same. [23489/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and, as Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.

I am, however, advised by the Garda Authorities that there are currently 13 horses attached to the Garda Mounted Unit, which is staffed by 1 Sergeant, 13 Gardaí and 2 grooms.

The Unit performs patrols primarily in the Dublin Metropolitan Region on a daily basis but, subject to other operational requirements, can be deployed to facilitate requests from local Garda management and outside agencies nationally. The Unit provides assistance in a variety of policing operations such as crime prevention and detection, operational patrols, backup to other Garda units, ceremonial events and maintaining order at public events.

The total gross expenditure for the Garda Mounted Unit for the years 2002-2016 is outlined in the following table.