Written answers
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Department of Defence
Defence Forces
Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context
237. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of instances in 2024 and to date in 2025 in which bombs, grenades or improvised explosive devices have been used; and the number of occasions during this period where Gardaí sought the assistance of the Army ordnance corps to manage such cases, in tabular form. [33966/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
My colleague the Minister for Justice Home Affairs and Migration and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means providing assistance to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. Where necessary in the circumstances of a request, the Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams respond when a formal request for assistance is made by An Garda Síochána.
The Defence Forces publish the number of requests for Aid to Civil Power on an annual basis. I am advised that the Defence Forces responded to in excess of 3,000 requests for Aid to Civil Power in 2024. For operational reasons, it is not appropriate to disclose the number of instances where EOD teams were tasked with providing that assistance.
Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context
238. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of horses that had trials to get into the Defence Forces Equitation School in the years 2024 and to date in 2025; and of the number of horses that had trials, the number that were successful in being accepted into the equitation school in each of the years in question, in tabular form. [33979/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The Army Equitation School's mission is to promote the Irish horse through international competition. To maintain its high standards, the school acquires suitable Irish bred horses through a rigorous process.
After a suitable horse has been identified that meets an existing gap in the Equitation School’s portfolio of horses, the owner is invited to bring the horse to McKee Barracks for an official trial before the members of the Horse Purchase Board, which includes a representative of the Minister for Defence.
The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below:
Year | No. of horses trialled | No. of horses purchased |
---|---|---|
2024 | 8 | 4 |
2025 | 1 | 0 |
There are a number of reasons why a horse may not be purchased following a trial, including failure to meet performance standards, disagreement on purchase price, or failing an independent veterinary examination.
No comments