Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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223. To ask the Minister for Finance the annual cost of resources, including staffing and equipment, for the customs section of the Revenue Commissioners related to the policing and enforcement of illegal fuel laundering of green diesel, in each of the years 2011 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41023/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the resources allocated to investigate this form of fuel fraud, I am informed by Revenue that it is a fully integrated tax administration and that it is not possible to disaggregate resources deployed exclusively at any given time on action against fuel laundering. Revenue currently has approximately 2,000 staff engaged on activities that are dedicated to targeting and confronting non-compliance. These front-line activities include anti-smuggling and anti-evasion, investigation and prosecution, audit, assurance checks, anti-avoidance, returns compliance and debt collection.

Revenue's overall staffing levels have reduced from a total of 6,076 full-time equivalents at the start of 2011 to 5,647 at end 2014, they are currently at 5,976.  Revenue staff resources assigned to compliance activities has been maintained at around 2,000 during this period. I have supported Revenue's case for an increase in staff resources which has seen their allocation increased over the past three budgets, primarily in respect of compliance resources. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are committed to ensuring that enforcement work generally, and action against fuel fraud specifically, will continue to be resourced to the maximum extent possible.

I am further advised by Revenue that the serious threat that fuel fraud poses to legitimate and compliant businesses, consumers and the Exchequer is recognised, and that action against criminal activity of this kind is, and will continue to be, a central element of its work.

Revenue has implemented a comprehensive strategy to tackle the illegal fuel trade, including the introduction of stringent new supply chain controls underpinning a rigorous programme of enforcement action and supported by a range of new legislative measures that I brought forward in Finance Acts over recent years. In addition, Revenue and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in the United Kingdom undertook a joint initiative to find a new fiscal marker for use in marked fuels, which was introduced in Ireland and the United Kingdom from April 2015.

In addition, Revenue works with An Garda Síochána in acting against fuel fraud, and the relevant authorities in the State also cooperate closely with their counterparts in Northern Ireland, through cross-border enforcement groups, to target the organised crime groups that are responsible for a large proportion of this criminal activity. I believe that this work is being supported and facilitated by the setting up last year, in the framework of "A Fresh Start: the Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan" of the Joint Agency Task Force, which includes Revenue.

Revenue also works in close cooperation with the relevant authorities in other jurisdictions, the European Anti-Fraud Office and other international bodies and agencies in the ongoing programmes of action at international level to combat the illicit fuel trade.

An analysis of the fuel market undertaken by Revenue in 2015 indicates that the wide-ranging programmes of action taken against fuel fraud have had a significant impact on illegal activity. This is borne out by feedback from fuel traders and their representative bodies, who report a significant reduction in the incidence of laundered fuel. In addition, Revenue carried out an extensive random sampling programme early in 2016 which tested for the presence of the new fuel marker in the storage tanks of forecourt fuel retailers. No samples tested positive for the new fuel marker.

I consider that Revenue's action against fuel fraud has had considerable success, and I am assured that action against criminal activity of that kind will continue to be a high priority.