Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Finance the plans of the Revenue Commissioners regarding its Drogheda office in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47389/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Revenue's Border Midlands West Region has the largest geographical spread of all Revenue regions. The number of small offices located in this region is a legacy of the prior existence of small Customs and Excise stations or Vehicle Registration Offices, which are no longer needed in the context of Revenue's modern service delivery. Generally, only limited services are delivered from these small offices and, in the case of Drogheda, these services are not specific to the town.

Revenue has an obligation to address the question of the proper use and management of resources, particularly given the current economic circumstances. In that context, the functions carried out in the Drogheda office are under review at present. The Drogheda review commenced in October when Regional Management met with the staff concerned with regard to their preferences. A systematic review of the functions carried out in Drogheda and the rationale for their location in Drogheda is ongoing. One function, the control of Drogheda Port, transferred to Dundalk in early December. This resulted in one staff member voluntarily transferring with the work. No final decision on the remaining functions has been taken to date.