asked the Minister for Defence the private security companies that have been employed to protect his Department or Defence Force installations; how long this has been the practice of his Department; and the amount paid to each company for their services in each of the last five years.

(Dún Laoghaire): No private security companies have been employed by my Department to protect the Department's premises or installations of the Defence Forces.

: Will the Minister indicate if this has been the case for the past few years or months? Have such companies ever been employed?

(Dún Laoghaire): Security at military installations is provided by the Defence Forces. Has the Deputy some premises in mind?

: Yes.

(Dún Laoghaire): It may be that the Deputy is referring to some office development where premises are leased and the lessor provides security for the premises overall. I am not sure if the Deputy is referring to a particular premises.

: The information, which I will pass to the Minister, refers to a Defence Forces installation.

(Dún Laoghaire): I will be pleased if the Deputy does that.