Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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381. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of dipping diesel fuel tests carried out by State services in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of positive results in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40152/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by Revenue that a multifaceted approach is taken to tackling the misuse of fuel. Revenue’s compliance activities in this area include roadside sampling of private and commercial vehicles at checkpoints combined with a risk-based, targeted sampling programme based on supply chain reporting obligations for suppliers and retailers. These activities leverage the benefits of the joint initiative of Revenue and HMRC in April 2015 of introducing a new marker for use in marked fuels.

The number of samples of Marked Gas Oil drawn and the consequential detections of misused fuel for the period 2019 to 30 June 2021 are set in the following table:

Revenue conducted a national oil random sampling programme in 2016 to 2019 to assess the extent of fuel laundering. The results for all four years of the sampling programmes are summarised in the report of the 2019 programme published at: .

The results for 2019 provide confirmation of the effectiveness of the various measures introduced by Revenue in recent years to enhance compliance in the fuel trade and among users of diesel. The random sampling programme results do not signify the complete elimination of the illicit trade in fuel; however, they demonstrate that systematic selling of illicit fuel through retail outlets and its use in the transport sector is negligible.

Despite the success in combating the misuse of fuel, I am assured by Revenue that tackling such criminality continues to be a priority. Revenue and An Garda Síochána collaborate closely in acting against cross-border fuel crime and co-operate with their counterparts in Northern Ireland under the framework of the North-South Joint Agency Task Force. This cooperation plays a key role in targeting the organised crime groups who operate across jurisdictions and are responsible for much of this criminal activity.