Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

53. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of customs officers recruited to date in 2019 with regard to Brexit; his plans to recruit additional customs officers in 2019; the procedure to be adopted to recruit suitable personnel for these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16830/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Revenue has appointed over 470 staff from open recruitment and interdepartmental competitions since the start of 2019, the majority of these have been assigned to customs roles or to backfill existing Revenue staff assigned to customs duties.

These posts have been filled by the recruitment of new staff from the Public Appointments Service, and from internal and interdepartmental competitions. 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.

Over 400 staff have completed customs training in preparation for Brexit.  A further 80 staff are to complete customs training during April 2019.

Revenue is an integrated tax and customs administration, resources are deployed based on the evolving business needs to tackle any risks as they emerge.

In the event of a no-deal Brexit, Revenue has panels and training plans in place to appoint additional staff required for Brexit during 2019.