Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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48. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline the revenue districts responsible for oversight of the Shannon estuary area, by quarter and by vessel, from 1 January 2024 to date; the number of days each Revenue maritime unit patrol vessel did not put to sea due to crewing or operational constraints; the number of hours and days of logged sea time, by month and by vessel, for the same period, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26202/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that Revenue, through its Investigation, Prosecution and Frontier Management Division (IPFMD), is responsible for implementing customs controls on traffic entering the EU through Irish ports and airports. This includes customs clearance of goods, the collection of customs duty and associated VAT and the detection, interception and seizure of prohibited and restricted products, including controlled drugs, at points of entry into the State including our territorial waters and adjacent seas. IPFMD maintains an enforcement presence at strategic locations and places particular emphasis on developing an intelligence-based focus at both national and regional level, deploying resources to areas of highest risk.

As regards the Shannon Estuary area, these functions are primarily carried out by IPFMD officers based in Clare, Limerick and Kerry. I am aware that their important work is supported by Revenue’s Customs Drugs Watch programme which is aimed at encouraging members of the public, along with coastal and local maritime communities, to notify Revenue of suspect or unusual activity at sea or around the coastline by way of a confidential 24/7 number - 1800 295 295.

In addition, the role of Revenue’s Maritime Unit, which has a national remit, is to provide maritime patrols and ensure compliance, carry out frontier controls, intelligence gathering, stakeholder liaison, vessel deep rummage capability and maritime related expertise. This includes patrolling and monitoring internal waters, territorial seas and adjacent waters for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of illegal importations and exportations of prohibited and restricted goods, including drugs. As well as patrolling at sea, Revenue’s Maritime Unit supports and works with land-based Revenue enforcement officers involved in anti-smuggling duties at ports and harbours.

I am aware that Revenue's Customs Service works proactively with An Garda Síochána and the Naval Service in the fight against drug trafficking as part of the Joint Task Force on Drugs Interdiction. There is excellent cooperation between these agencies in the sharing of intelligence and the identification and investigation of the criminals involved in the illegal drugs trade. Revenue’s Maritime Unit also works closely with EU and international law enforcement partners, including MAOC(N) [Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics] based in Lisbon, where Revenue has a full-time country liaison officer. MAOC-N was established in 2007 as an initiative of seven western European countries (Ireland, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the UK and the Netherlands), focused on reducing the threat of drug trafficking into the EU by sea.

Revenue deploys two Revenue Customs Cutters (RCC), the RCC Suirbhéir and the RCC Faire, to patrol the coastline, undertake routine and intelligence led vessel controls and support maritime surveillance and intelligence gathering duties. The Cutters are crewed by Maritime Unit teams, each operating on a 24-hour basis for 8 days at a time. The RCC Suirbhéir, which is in service since 2004, is approaching the end of its service life and Revenue has contracted to purchase a replacement vessel. This vessel is currently under construction and is expected to come into service later in 2025.

I am informed that Revenue’s Maritime Unit teams were deployed for a total of 548 days in 2024 and 195 days up to end April 2025, out of which Customs Cutters spent 95 days at sea. For operational reasons, Revenue does not publish details of crew deployments.

It is important to note that Revenue’s maritime crews are multi-functional and may operate at sea or on other maritime frontier-related activities, primarily at ports and harbours, depending on operational needs at a given time. This may include sea patrols, rigid inflatable boat (RIB)-based operations along the shoreline, search operations, Joint Task Force activities as well as overseas deployments in support of international operations. During 2024 and 2025, Revenue’s Maritime Unit officers have also been engaged in enhanced training and certification in preparation for operation of the new Cutter which is expected later in 2025.

Vacancies arise across Revenue in the normal course, including in its Maritime Unit, and I am advised that a recent open recruitment competition for the Maritime Unit has been successfully undertaken. Several officers have been recruited from that competition and are currently undertaking an extensive training programme to equip them to fulfil their duties as maritime Customs Officers.