28 people get Garda security costing €6m a year

GARDA PROTECTION for the President, Taoiseach, Cabinet members, former taoisigh and members of the judiciary costs an average €215,000 each.

Some 28 people in the State qualify for Garda driver and security services at a total cost of €6 million annually, according to figures released by the Department of Justice.

Some 56 Garda officers provide protection for the 28 designated people and a further 27 gardaí are "also designated as relief Garda protection officers for relief tours of duty with the designated persons", according to Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern.

Labour justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte said the €6 million was "a lot of money".

Mr Rabbitte, who asked a parliamentary question on the issue, said that at a time of major budgetary constraints, "it is a very expensive facility".

He questioned the need for such protection "in times of peace on the island when subversion is not the threat it was".

The Labour TD questioned the need to take 83 highly trained gardaí out of the system when there was an increased need for gardaí to deal with gangland crime.

"Do we really need highly-skilled gardaí minding Eamon Ó Cuív and Martin Cullen?" he asked of two Cabinet Ministers, adding that there were trained civilian drivers available.

"There is huge resistance to civilianisation, but using 83 topflight gardaí in this way needs to be looked at" as part of the civilianisation process for some sections of the Garda.

If the two Green Ministers could cycle around the city "or at least cycle when the cameras are around, why can't other Ministers? Or are the special drivers cycling behind them?"

The 28 "designated persons" include the President, Taoiseach and Cabinet members, the Government Chief Whip, Ceann Comhairle and four of the five former taoisigh. John Bruton currently serves in Washington DC as the EU's ambassador to the US.

The attorney general and director of public prosecution are also among those receiving Garda driver and security services.

In the US, by contrast, secret service protection during the presidential election was estimated at $45,000 (€35,925) daily each for senators Barack Obama and John McCain.