Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of operational customs officials; the number that will be operational on 29 March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9100/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Revenue is a fully integrated tax and customs administration. Revenue currently has approximately 2,100 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 had approximately 800 staff assigned to customs specific work which covers service to support compliance and to confront non-compliance in September 2019. Following recent recruitment and appointments there are currently over 1,000 staff assigned to these functions.

Revenue are on track to have approximately 1,200 staff assigned to customs specific work which covers service to support compliance and to confront non-compliance by end March 2019. Additional staff have also been assigned to Brexit related support functions including policy, legislation, information technology and training.