Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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344. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated full cost in 2024 if the number of dogs in the Revenue Commissioners dog unit increased to 55. [1093/24]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised that Revenue currently operates 25 dog detector teams, including one team working on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The year one cost of each detector dog team is approximately €100,000. This includes the cost of a trained detector dog, salary of the handler, training for the handler with the dog, transport, and kennelling arrangements. Subsequent costs associated with each detector dog team is approximately €40,000 per annum. This includes salary, allowances, uniform, food, vet bills and other related costs.

Should the number of detector dog teams increase to 55, the estimated full cost in one year, including costs associated with 30 new teams, would be approximately €4 million.

I am advised by Revenue that the dog detector teams, although an integral element of Revenue’s compliance framework, are just one component of a suite of detection equipment and technologies deployed to target, illicit trade, smuggling and organised crime. Scan technology is deployed at all points of entry that work in tandem with the dog detector teams.

I am further advised that operational requirements regarding the deployment and use of detection technology and resources, including dog detector teams, are kept under regular review by Revenue having regard to ongoing risk assessment of smuggling and criminal activities and evolving operational needs.