John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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212. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of new customs officers which will be assigned to each port and airport as a consequence of Brexit; the number expected to be in place in each port and airport by 29 March 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1158/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that they will require an additional 600 staff as a result of Brexit. This is based on the central case scenario of an orderly withdrawal, to include a transition period to the end of 2020, followed by an agreed future trading relationship between the EU and the UK.

The Government approved the phased recruitment of 600 Revenue staff in September of last year. Budget 2019 provided Revenue with a provision for 270 staff, of the total of 600, for Brexit during 2019. These staff are primarily required for trade facilitation.

Revenue has advised that plans are well advanced to have 200 of the 270 additional staff, across a number of functions, trained and in place by 29 March 2019. Of these 200 additional staff, 142 will be assigned to the ports and airports and will be working on a 24 hour/7-day basis.

The following table provides the breakdown of the number of additional staff who will be in place in Dublin Port, Dublin Airport and Rosslare Port by 29 March 2019:

The above additional staff will bring the total Revenue staff in Dublin Port to approximately 160, Dublin Airport to approximately 160 and Rosslare Port to approximately 40 by 29 March 2019.

In the event of the UK leaving without an agreement accelerated recruitment of the remaining 330 staff will be required during 2019. It is intended to manage this by way of internal, interdepartmental and open recruitment. In addition Revenue will also redeploy existing Revenue staff, if necessary.