John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Finance the safeguards in place to ensure that vehicles seized by the Revenue Commissioners are not damaged or destroyed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32184/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of compensation claims received by the Revenue Commissioners in relation to vehicles damaged or destroyed while in their custody; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32185/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of vehicles in the custody of the Revenue Commissioners which have been damaged or destroyed by fire in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32186/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 to 113, inclusive,' together.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the majority of vehicles seized by their enforcement staff are stored in the State Warehouse in Dublin. This Warehouse was designed and constructed specifically with security as a prime consideration. Seized vehicles are kept within a gated secure compound with 24 hour/7 day onsite security, including the use of CCTV surveillance. Revenue operates a number of other small compounds around the country to facilitate the shorter-term storage of seized vehicles. These include both walled and palisade compounds, as well as lock-up units. Every effort is made to ensure that vehicles are safely stored. Revenue is conscious of the need to safeguard all such vehicles. For operational and security reasons, details of security measures cannot be divulged but they do include CCTV monitoring, alarm systems and mobile security checks.

Since 1 January 2007, there has been only one incident of fire damage to seized vehicles. This occurred at around 1.30 am on the night of Saturday 20th June 2009 when 4 vehicles were either completely destroyed or substantially damaged by fire in the Revenue vehicle compound attached to Michael Davitt House, Castlebar, Co Mayo. The vehicles had previously been seized for VRT offences by Revenue's Anti Evasion Team. Gardaí investigating the incident are satisfied, having reviewed CCTV footage, that it represented an arson attack on the vehicles from outside the compound and that access wasn't gained to the compound itself. Their investigations are ongoing. Revenue has subsequently been in contact with the owners of the four vehicles and is corresponding with their legal representatives.

Other than the above incident, there have been two compensation claims received since 1st January 2007 in respect of seized vehicles allegedly damaged while in the possession of the Revenue Commissioners. In one case, the alleged incident occurred on 1st May 2007. The case was closed with no compensation paid. In the second case, the alleged damage to the vehicle occurred on 21st September 2005 and a compensation claim was received on 19th July 2007. The case is still open. Neither of these two vehicles was destroyed.