An Post will not be asked to pay for army escorts for cash in transit deliveries even though the Department of Defence wants the banks to meet the full cost.
The department says it is close to agreement with the Irish Bankers' Federation about paying for army escorts, but the financial institutions say it may be next week before any deal is announced.
An Post accounts for around 20% of escorts but it will not be asked to pay because it is a State company whose cash deliveries are for social welfare and pension payments.
McDowell in warning to banks
Last month the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, told the representatives of banks that they will have to contribute more to the cost of armed escorts for cash in transit deliveries.
The cost of such operations is currently €9m annually and Mr McDowell told banks that they would have to pay more than their present contribution of €3m.
He also gave security companies 120 days to draw up a voluntary code of standard relating to training, equipment and security for cash in transit deliveries.
If they fail to adopt this voluntary code, then Mr McDowell said he would draw up legislation which would license only those who reach an acceptable standard.
It followed a meeting between Mr McDowell, the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, and representatives of banks and the security industry.
The meeting was held after a robbery of a Brinks Allied security van in Artane, north Dublin in which €2.7m was stolen.
The incident was the latest in a series of cash in transit raids which has not only yielded millions for armed gangs but also threatened the lives of security staff and the general public.
