John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of full-time customs and excise officials working in the Border, midlands and west region for the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9906/11]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of part-time customs officials working in the Border, midlands and west region for the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9907/11]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff engaged full-time in the detection of drugs in the Border, midlands and west region of the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9908/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 to 55, inclusive, together.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Revenue is an integrated Tax and Customs administration, and all Revenue staff are available for assignment to any required functions in accordance with currently identified priorities and risks. Currently (30 April) the Revenue Commissioners have 881 staff serving in the Border, Midlands, West region. The corresponding figures for staff employed at the same point in each of the previous years requested are as follows (all full-time equivalents):

2006 885

2007 945

2008 972

2009 962

2010 888

These staff play an important part in ensuring compliance with all taxes and duties including customs obligations and excise duties and are supplemented by staff from other Revenue Regions and Revenue's Investigation and Prosecution Division as required for specific planned operations, particularly in relation to excises and smuggling. Revenue is aware that it plays a frontline role in protecting society from the importation of illicit drugs. As a stakeholder in the Government's National Drugs Strategy, Revenue plays an important role in implementing the Supply Reduction Pillar.

Strategic and Operation Plans, which are managed on a national basis, have been put in place to ensure Revenue meets its commitments under the strategy. This ongoing commitment is bolstered by the deployment of the two Revenue Customs Cutters, the RCC Suirbhéir and the RCC Faire, two X-Ray scanners and 13 detector dog teams, coupled with the management of the Customs Drugs Watch programme.

Revenue works proactively with an Garda Síochána and the Naval Service as part of the Joint Task Force on Drugs Interdiction. Along with effective operational interventions, Revenue has also used its contacts within international law enforcement agencies to proactively profile drug trafficking networks.