Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Finance when full-time customs service staff will be assigned to the port at Killybegs, County Donegal, to replace the staff member who retired last year; when a customs cutter vessel will be assigned on a permanent basis to patrol the north-west coast to prevent drugs being brought ashore; the number of Revenue or customs full-time staff and part-time staff who are trained in the detection of illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27366/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a review of small offices in 2009 concluded that there was no longer a need for a full-time, permanent staff presence at Killybegs. This decision was made in the light of the level of demand for Revenue services at that location and modern service delivery channels. Consequently, the official who had been based in Killybegs until his retirement was not replaced at that location.

Following discussions with Killybegs based traders, it was agreed that their service requirements would be dealt with from the Revenue office in Donegal Town, which is only 25 kilometres from Killybegs. A much larger pool of staff is available at Donegal Town to ensure continuity and consistency of service and to deliver a broader range of customer services from that location. Where necessary, an officer from Donegal Town attends at Killybegs by appointment, if physical presence is needed for any particular transaction. A recent review of the new arrangements has concluded that the service currently being provided is meeting the needs of customers in the Killybegs area.

Revenue enforcement staff continue to cover Killybegs Port as part of their ongoing patrols, while the Customs Cutters patrol the coastline. The attendance of enforcement personnel is selective and targeted and is based on analysis and evaluation of national and international seizure trends, traffic frequency, routes and other risk indicators. Revenue continuously assesses the risk along the Donegal coast, including any small ports and other landing places, for the illegal importation of drugs and tobacco products. Attendance at Ports can also be as a result of specific intelligence. Customs officers liase with local Gardai, Harbour Masters and Coastguard Officers regarding drugs and with trade interests in respect of fiscal products.

As part of the Customs Drugs Watch programme, a confidential 24/7 free phone is promoted and maintained as a communications channel for the maritime and coastal communities to report suspicious activity. While there is constant monitoring of the Donegal coastline, it is not the policy of the Revenue Commissioners to publish details of such enforcement activities. Neither does Revenue publish the number or location of Customs staff trained in the detection of illegal drugs as this could prejudice current or future operations.

In terms of maritime surveillance, there are currently two Customs Cutters in service, the RCC Suirbhéir and the RCC Faire and these support our teams of land-based enforcement officers involved in anti-smuggling duties. Patrols of the Ports by the Cutters are kept under constant review to take account of available intelligence and emerging smuggling trends. The Cutters spend a significant amount of their time patrolling the north west in execution of plans drawn up by the local risk assessment personnel. Based on current risk profiles, it is not envisaged that a Customs cutter will be assigned on a permanent basis to patrol the north west coast.

In addition to national patrolling and surveillance activities, the Customs Service participates in a number of international Joint Surveillance Operations each year. In 2008 the Commissioners assigned a Customs Officer to the Maritime Operations and Analysis Centre – Narcotics in Lisbon, Portugal. This centre, which is supported by the US authorities, is playing a leading role in the fight against the trafficking of drugs, particularly cocaine, into the EU from South America and also from West Africa, which is increasingly being used as a staging post. Revenue's Customs Service continues to work proactively with an Garda Síochána and the Naval Service as part of the Joint Task Force on Drugs Interdiction. The Commissioners are satisfied that the current arrangements for maritime and coastal surveillance are sufficient and effective and currently have no plans for the acquisition or deployment of additional cutter resources.