Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of additional customs officials that have been hired and are operational to deal with Brexit; the number that are undergoing training at the moment; the number that will be fully operational by 12 April 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14688/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In September 2018, the Government granted approval in principle for the phased recruitment of an additional 600 Revenue staff to meet the challenges posed by Brexit. Budget 2019 provided Revenue with the funding needed for 270 of the additional 600 staff to be recruited during 2019 to manage an orderly UK withdrawal.

Following the Government decision to give greater priority to the preparations for a No Deal Brexit in December 2018, it was agreed to accelerate Revenue’s recruitment plans.

Revenue has appointed over 400 staff from open recruitment and interdepartmental competitions since the start of 2019. 400 staff will have completed customs training in April 2019 in preparation for Brexit.

As serving staff are taking up their new Brexit related positions, Revenue is backfilling the vacancies created through panels of candidates established from its general recruitment activity.

In the event of a no-deal Brexit, Revenue plans to appoint a further 200 staff during the rest of 2019. This would bring the total additional staff recruited to the 600 staff required to deal with the UK withdrawal from the EU.