Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the State continues to pay for customs and excise services at privately owned and regional airports which receive both capital grant funding and public service obligation subsidies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22565/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that in the case of privately owned and regional airports attendance by Revenue staff is in the context of control visits where staff are seeking to protect the State against the illegal introduction of restricted goods. These control visits are selective and targeted and based on analysis and evaluation of the ongoing risk at the particular location. Having regard to the nature of these control visits, it is not considered appropriate to seek payment from the operator of the airport and, indeed, there would not appear to be any legal basis for doing so.

More generally, however, there is provision for Revenue to charge a fee where attendance is requested by an airport operator, for example to facilitate clearance of goods outside of normal hours. In addition, where Revenue grants formal approval to an airport for the arrival and departure of foreign flights, the conditions can include a requirement to provide accommodation and facilities free of charge to the State; this would normally arise where there is a need to have an ongoing presence at an airport because of the volume of traffic.