Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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This Government has been consistent in its strong support for ensuring that Revenue has the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate in respect of functions that are critical for its effective functioning as a tax and customs administration.

Revenue’s Maritime Unit currently has two Cutters (patrol vessels) in active service, with one of those vessels approaching the end of its service life.

An application for funding under the European Anti-Fraud Office’s (OLAF) Union Anti-Fraud Programme towards the partial cost of a replacement Cutter was submitted in 2022 and was successful. A Request for Tender for a replacement Cutter was published in the Official Journal of the EU in October 2022. Tenders were received in February 2023 and following a comprehensive evaluation process a contract for the delivery of a Revenue Customs Cutter was signed on the 3^rd of August 2023 with AuxNaval in Spain.

The contracted cost of the replacement Cutter is €8.75 million excluding VAT and is being funded by the Exchequer and the grant from OLAF from the EU Anti-Fraud Programme. The new Cutter is currently under construction and is expected to come into service in 2025.

Included in the Request for Tender was an option for a second vessel, which could be a replacement for Revenue’s second vessel when it is approaching the end of its service life.