Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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238. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if further immigration control officers will be recruited due to the ongoing shortage at Dublin Airport; the number of immigration control officers to date who have been hired in the second phase of recruitment in June 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51556/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service assumed responsibility for immigration management in Terminal 2 on 2nd October 2017 and is now responsible for all frontline immigration controls in Dublin airport.

There are currently 134 officers assigned to immigration control duties at Dublin airport (119 immigration control officers and 15 immigration control supervisors).

My Department is committed to ensuring that sufficient numbers of staff are assigned to Dublin airport so that immigration controls are operated in an effective and efficient manner. This is reflected in the appointment of over 80 officers in 2017 alone, of which the most recent group of 16 officers commenced employment on 6 November 2017. The appointment of these officers has ensured that sufficient resources are in place to operate immigration controls throughout Dublin airport, including Terminal 2.

I would also like to highlight that Automatic Border Control 'e-Gates' have recently been introduced at Dublin Airport. Five gates have been put into operation at each terminal in this initial phase and this will increase to 10 at each terminal in the coming weeks.