Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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266. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the process that local community voluntary groups must meet in order to have Defence Forces School of Music play at a community event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61442/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department will always work to ensure the Defence Forces can engage with communities across the State, where possible. It is important to note that my Department's Community Support Unit receives significant volumes of requests Community Supports.

The Community Support process requires the event organisers to contact my Department at communitysupport@defence.ie. They will be sent an application form to fill out which they should set out the details of the event. Given the volume of requests it is important that requests are submitted in good time to enable my officials to liaise with the Defence Forces.

The completed application form, which must be accompanied by a letter of indemnification from the event organiser's insurance company, should be returned to communitysupport@defence.ie at least eight weeks in advance of the event.

If the application form and indemnification are in order, and the event is deemed appropriate to support, a formal notification will be issued by the Community Support Unit to the Defence Forces School of Music (DFSM) for consideration. The DFSM will consider supporting the event subject to the availability of resources. As the Deputy will appreciate, State events and military events must be prioritised over community events.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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267. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the additional costs incurred by the Irish Defence Forces for security provided at Shannon Airport due to US military use of Shannon Airport from 2018 to date in 2025. [61625/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The costs associated with ATCP duties at Shannon Airport for 2022 to date are currently being collated and therefore it is not possible to provide that information within the time available. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is made available to me by the military authorities.

The figures in respect of 2018 to 2021 are set out in the table below.