John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Finance when customs officials will be assigned on a full time basis to Ireland West Airport. [27563/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, although there are no full time Customs staff stationed at Ireland West Airport Knock, Revenue's Customs enforcement staff attend at the airport very regularly from other nearby locations.

Attendance by Customs officers is selective and targeted and is based on analysis and evaluation of national and international seizure trends, traffic frequency, routes and other risk indicators. Attendance can also be as a result of specific intelligence. A drugs detector dog is frequently used. Flights with origins and destinations with a high-risk rating attract particular interest. Attendances by Customs officers cover the full range of flight times and are kept under constant review, in particular to take account of emerging smuggling trends and any traffic increases at the Airport.

During the first 5 months of 2010, Customs staff regularly visited Knock Airport and 259 flights carrying 27,006 passengers were profiled and examined. The new Revenue drug detector dog was in attendance for almost all of these flights and screened over 23,000 passengers. The number of bags checked by the dog is estimated at 40,000, to include hand luggage as well as checked-in luggage. Use is also made of X-ray equipment in the arrivals terminal. Two seizures of Cannabis Resin and seven seizures of Herbal Cannabis were made. Three seizures of fiscal duty goods were also made - two seizures of cigarettes and one seizure of spirits.

The Revenue Commissioners are satisfied that the current arrangements and resources are sufficient for the control of Ireland West Airport Knock.