John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will guarantee that the new cutter boat which is about to be brought into service by the Revenue Commissioner's will regularly patrol the west coast of Ireland in order to enhance drugs surveillance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30878/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The new cutter as with the existing cutter will have a national remit, including the west coast of Ireland. Either or both vessels can and will be deployed to patrol and carry out operations along that coastline as and when required. The practice with the existing cutter is that deployments consist of a mixture of routine patrols and specific risk-driven taskings. This practice will continue, enhanced by the increased capability of the Revenue Commissioners with two cutters.

I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that sea trials are due to commence next week at the shipyard in Finland, where the second Revenue Cutter was built. Following those trials and any necessary changes to the vessel, shipyard personnel are due to deliver the cutter to Ireland for handover to Revenue Customs in the last week of September. The actual delivery date is dependent on the duration of the sea trials and weather conditions during the voyage from Finland to Ireland. Allowing for a short period of time for crew familiarisation, it is expected that the cutter will come into full service in the second half of October.