Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of additional customs officers that have been trained and hired to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18373/19]

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.

Revenue has appointed over 470 staff from open recruitment and interdepartmental competitions since the start of 2019 to 10 April 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.